Centurion Flintoff relieved to escape a pair

England's Andy Flintoff, who hammered a Test-best 137 against New Zealand on Friday, said his only concern at the start of the third day had been to avoid a pair.

England, resuming on 63 for two, lost three wickets in the opening hour and Flintoff, who made a duck off 14 balls in the first innings, joined Graham Thorpe at the crease with his side precariously placed at 106 for five.

"It was nice to get a decent score but, to be honest, when I went out there I was trying not to score a pair. Never did I imagine I would be scoring 130-odd," said the all-rounder after eclipsing his previous Test-best of 42.

"I managed to get into the right position and hit the ball in the middle of the bat for a change.

"I'd never got to 50 in a Test before and 50 was the big mark for me. I was reasonably relaxed by the time I got into the 90s, even though I seemed to be on 96 for a long time."

In partnership with the left-handed Thorpe, who struck the third fastest double century of all time, Flintoff put on an England record sixth-wicket stand against all countries of 281.

The previous best of 240 was scored by Peter Parfitt (131 not out) and Barry Knight (125) against New Zealand at Auckland in 1963.

England eventually declared their second innings at 468 for six and New Zealand, set an improbable 550 to win, were 28 without loss when bad light ended play for the day.

Flintoff, who plundered 23 fours and three sixes from a depleted New Zealand attack, said he was determined not to make too much of a one-off innings.

"I am looking for consistency," he said. "I want to build on this and start scoring runs on a more regular basis."

BATTING BONUS

Flintoff said batting with Thorpe had been a bonus.

"Thorpey makes it look so easy from the other end. It rubs off on you," he said.

Thorpe, who was dropped off the second ball he faced before making an unbeaten 200 from 231 balls, said afterwards his main target had been to get past his previous Test-best score 138.

"I wanted to get a big score for the team," he said. "I got 200 - 100 for each of my two children."

Only Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and England's Ian Botham have reached 200 faster than Thorpe, who struck 28 fours and four sixes.

The Surrey left-hander said he was now a much happier man than when he left Ahmedabad near the end of the tour of India to attend to domestic problems back in England.

"I've had terrific support from the team and the England management," he said. "Maybe this goes some way to pay them back."

Thorpe said he had also been determined to make the most of the simple chance put down by slip Nathan Astle after the Englishman had struck a boundary from his first delivery from paceman Chris Drum.

"We all drop catches, and I was determined to benefit hugely this morning," he said.

Thorpe said he knew a declaration was coming if he managed to reach 200. "I got the message when I was on about 190 that that was the target, so I was ready to come off when I got there (to 200)."

Mail Cricket Editor