Cricket: Papps keeps Kiwis alive

NZ Under-19 110 & 307-6 England Under-19 225

MICHAEL PAPPS proved a thorn in the side of the England Under- 19 team once again on the third day of the second Test in Wellington.

The diminutive New Zealand opener hit a century in the second innings of the first Test to give his side a chance of a remarkable victory, which they eventually spurned. England's bowlers fared little better against him yesterday, as he went on to score 127 and drag his side back into a game that they appeared to have lost on the first day, when they were bowled out for 110.

Papps put on 144 for the first wicket with Tim McIntosh, who was the first to go, departing lbw after playing across the line off the bowling of Giles Haywood for 81.

But Papps ground on, reaching his hundred off 319 balls having been at the crease for almost seven hours. England eventually snared him late in the day, the Durham slow left-armer Graeme Bridge trapping Papps leg before as he played back.

Papps was fifth out with the score on 284 and the Kiwis added a further 23 before the close to stretch their lead to 192, which set up a tense final day.

Joe Tucker had taken the second wicket of a frustrating day when Brad Patton edged a cut shot and was caught behind for six. The New Zealand captain, Jarrod Englefield, played his usual array of shots before gloving a hook shot to the wicketkeeper, Mark Wallace, off Matt Whiley when on 45.

England had injury troubles with the Somerset seamers, Tucker and Matt Bulbeck, both withdrawing from the attack.

Third day; England won toss

NZ UNDER-19 - First Innings 110 (J R Tucker 5-35).

ENGLAND UNDER-19 - First Innings 225 (M A Gough 116; H Shaw 5-59).

NZ UNDER-19 - Second Innings

(Overnight: 55 for 0)

M Papps lbw b Bridge 127

T McIntosh lbw b Haywood 81

B Patton c Wallace b Tucker 6

J Englefield c Wallace b Whiley 45

J McNamee lbw b Bridge 7

J Franklin b Bridge 9

P McGlashan not out 10

M Hendry not out 2

Extras (12b 8lb) 20

Total (for 6, 149 overs) 307

Fall: 1-144, 2-172, 3-249, 4-275, 5-284, 6-303.

To Bat: L Hammond, B Martin, H Shaw.

Bowling: Bulbeck 23-8-51-0; Whiley 27-7-55-1; Haywood 16.2-6-48-1; Tucker 14.4 4 45 1; Dawson 35-16-47-0; Bridge 33-14-41-3.

Umpires: R Garland and D Alexander.