Astle stars but England win

Hoggard dismissed Astle after an amazing onslaught

First Test, Christchurch, day four: England 228 all out & 468-6 declared; New Zealand 147 all out & 451

England won by 98 runs

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England wrapped up victory with a day to spare despite an astonishing innings of 222 by Nathan Astle at Jade Stadium.

It was the fastest double century in Test history and he hit 11 sixes and 28 fours to save face for New Zealand, who had been set a seemingly impossible target of 550 for victory.

Andy Caddick took six wickets for England in the city of his birth, but even he was unable to contain Astle as he raced from 100 to 200 in just 39 balls.

Chris Cairns helped add 118 for the 10th wicket despite batting with a runner because of a knee injury.

And a rattled England side breathed a collective sigh of relief when Astle was finally caught behind off Matthew Hoggard.

It was their first win in the opening Test of an overseas series for 10 years but came at a cost with Mark Butcher suffering a cracked thumb in taking the catch to dismiss Lou Vincent.

Breakthrough

There were few fireworks in the morning session as Caddick gave England the start they were looking for after New Zealand had begun on 28 for no wicket.

Caddick took six wickets in his hometown

He quickly removed Matt Horne and Vincent and although Mark Richardson counter-attacked with a fine knock of 76, including 13 fours, he also fell to Caddick before lunch.

Richardson was lucky to survive a confident lbw appeal by Hoggard on 61 but failed to drop his hands as he ducked a Caddick bouncer and gloved a catch to James Foster.

His dismissal brought Astle to the crease and he shared a partnership of 70 with captain Stephen Fleming, who had taken 25 balls to get off the mark at the start of his innings.

They were eventually parted when Andrew Flintoff, who made his maiden Test hundred on the third day, found the inside edge of Fleming's bat. The Kiwi skipper was caught behind for 48.

Run spree

Caddick took a return catch from Craig McMillan (24) from his first delivery of a new spell and achieved his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests when Adam Parore played on in his next over.

Daniel Vettori (12) kept Astle company for nine overs before he hit spinner Ashley Giles to mid-wicket and the end appeared near when Chris Drum and Ian Butler fell cheaply.

Astle's timing and strokeplay was a joy to watch

New Zealand were 333 for nine when Cairns hobbled to the crease, a seemingly pointless gesture by a player who will miss the final two Tests in the series.

But he was mobile enough to join the fun as Astle tore into the England attack after Nasser Hussain had taken the new ball.

Hoggard concede 41 in two overs and Astle then hit Caddick for three successive sixes before bringing up his 200 off a mere 153 balls by sweeping Giles for a single.

The target came down below 100 as Astle lofted Hoggard into the crowd at long-on.

But the next delivery was wider and he nicked it to Foster, who joyfully accepted his fifth catch of the innings to bring a hugely entertaining game to an end.

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New Zealand: S Fleming (Capt), M Richardson, M Horne, L Vincent, N Astle, C Cairns, C McMillan, A Parore, D Vettori, C Drum, I Butler.

England: N Hussain (capt), M Trescothick, M Vaughan, M Butcher, G Thorpe, M Ramprakash, A Flintoff, A Giles, J Foster, A Caddick, M Hoggard.

Umpires: A de Silva (SrL), B Bowden (NZ).

Test Match Special has live coverage of the first Test between New Zealand and England from 21.30 GMT Tuesday on BBC Radio 4, 198 LW and Five Live Sports Extra.