England set to wrap up series

England look set to wrap up the three-match series against New Zealand after taking total control of the second Test on Sunday.

With one day's play remaining, England were 184 for one in their second innings, an overall lead of 246 against an increasingly demoralised New Zealand side. England won the first Test at Christchurch by 98 runs.

After Andy Caddick had taken six for 59 in New Zealand's disappointing first innings 218, England scored at will in the late afternoon session.

Michael Vaughan (34) was the only batsman to lose his wicket, setting the stage for Marcus Trescothick (77 not out) and Mark Butcher (57 not out) to take the home bowling apart.

Earlier Caddick recorded his 12th innings haul of five wickets or better in Test cricket as New Zealand collapsed from their overnight score of 70 for one.

Lou Vincent was the first to go, attempting a flailing sweep against left-arm spinner Ashley Giles. He got a top edge for Graham Thorpe to take a simple catch at short fine leg.

Vincent had scored his second Test half-century in 175 minutes off 143 balls with five fours and his departure for 57 ended a second-wicket partnership of 119 with Mark Richardson.

Captain Stephen Fleming, who had an uncomfortable four balls from Giles before slipping him to fine leg for three, was the next to go. He slammed a shortish ball from Caddick straight in to the midriff of Thorpe at gully without adding to his score.

RICHARDSON HALF-CENTURY

Richardson, who rode his luck earlier in the morning had batted with circumspection as the England bowlers got in to their stride. Andy Flintoff, Caddick and Giles had given him little room for scoring, but he hit his 10th Test half-century in 202 minutes off 152 balls.

He fell with the score on 143 when he got a thick edge to a Caddick delivery and Giles dived full length at point to scoop up the catch. Umpire Steve Dunne consulted with his counterpart Darrell Hair who confirmed the catch was good and Richardson was out for 60.

The drama continued when Nathan Astle, the batting hero from the first Test with his record-breaking 222, got an edge to a viciously turning Giles' ball and Nasser Hussain dived to his left and scooped the ball up at first slip.

Astle had scored four and Giles struck again at 149 when the horribly out-of-sorts Adam Parore got a touch to a ball which was caught by Mark Ramprakash at short-forward square and was out without scoring.

Craig McMillan, opening his stance to Giles so that he was almost facing the square-leg umpire, batted enterprisingly for 41, including four boundaries and a six, before he was lbw to Caddick.

Trecothick, who has been out of touch so far in the series, was in total command when England batted, reaching his 50 from 81 balls with eight boundaries.

He was well supported by Butcher who hit nine fours in his half-century, which he reached from 86 deliveries.

Both sides observed a minute's silence before play in honour of England one-day international Ben Hollioake, who was killed in a car crash in Western Australia early on Saturday morning.

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Mail Cricket Editor