sport

England Throw Away First Test

Vaughan makes his way back to the pavilion.

England slumped to a comprehensive 189-runs defeat by New Zealand in the opening Test today when they were dismissed for a lowly 110 chasing a victory target of 300 off a minimum of 81 overs.

The tourists, who were harbouring hopes of victory at the start of the final day at Seddon Park, were dismissed in only 55 overs with Kyle Mills claiming four for 16 while fellow seamer Chris Martin finished with three for 33.

Only two England batsmen - Alastair Cook and Ian Bell - even reached double figures during their innings to maintain a miserable run of only one overseas victory in their last 17 Tests.

It was also the sixth time in the last 12 series they have lost the opening Test and continues a miserable winter for the tourists having lost in Sri Lanka and begun this series as overwhelming favourites.

The final day had begun with New Zealand resuming 269 runs ahead on 147 for eight, and quickly declared on 177 for nine to give both sides hopes of snatching an early lead in the three-Test series.

Captain Vettori's decision to declare so early in the day was quickly vindicated by seamer Mills, who tore through England's top order with a burst of four wickets for two runs in 25 balls which set New Zealand firmly on course for victory.

He claimed his first victim in the fourth over of the reply to dismiss Cook, who had raced to 13 off 14 balls but played away from his body and edged behind to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

Captain Michael Vaughan had never looked comfortable at the crease from the moment he got off the mark with an attempted pull which flew over the slip cordon for four and four overs later was given lbw to Mills pushing only half forward.

Mills' spell gained momentum when he removed Andrew Strauss in his next over with Strauss edging a seaming delivery behind for McCullum to claim a diving catch to his left.

But the key wicket was two overs later when he claimed Kevin Pietersen, who shouldered arms to a delivery he thought was passing safely outside off-stump but clipped his pad on the way through and persuaded umpire Steve Davis to raise his finger.

He was finally withdrawn from the attack after a stunning new ball burst of 7-2-9-4, which allowed Bell and Paul Collingwood to survive until lunch knowing a long occupation of the crease was crucial if England were to prevent a first Test defeat.

Collingwood, who took 50 minutes and 33 balls just to get off the mark, batted defiantly for over an hour for his two but fell to Vettori's left-arm spin 12 overs into the afternoon session when he attempted to cut off the back foot but only succeeded in chopping onto his stumps.

That wicket prompted New Zealand to recall seamer Martin to the attack in the next over and he responded with two further wickets as England lost three wicket in nine balls to move closer to defeat.

New batsman Tim Ambrose was beaten by a full-length delivery which seamed away and knocked back his off-stump and three balls later Sidebottom edged another delivery behind.

Martin claimed his third wicket eight overs later when Matthew Hoggard pushed forward outside off-stump and edged behind to give McCullum his fourth catch of the innings.

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel hastened England's slide towards defeat when he replaced Martin and removed Steve Harmison, caught at slip after a diving juggle by Stephen Fleming.

But even a spirited last wicket partnership of 33 spanning 12 overs between Bell, who finished unbeaten on 54 including five fours and two sixes, and Monty Panesar could not save England.

All-rounder Jacob Oram completed England's rout in late afternoon when Panesar's 44 minutes of defiance was ended when he edged behind to seal New Zealand's triumph.