New Zealand display grit

Published on Monday 5 May 2008 23:39

NEW Zealand got by without captain Daniel Vettori as they wrapped up an unexpectedly comfortable victory at Chelmsford.

The tourists began the final day as marginal second favourites in what looked sure to be a tight contest – but ground out an encouraging outcome from their penultimate warm-up match before the first Test against England at Lord's. For Essex and England, a stubborn first half-century of the summer from Alastair Cook (57) was the consolation as the hosts descended from a start-of-play 45 for one to 200 all out – in pursuit of 293.

For the Kiwis, it must have been heartening to learn they could break a strong county top order without the services of the injured Vettori as captain or premier spinner.

In his absence – with the split finger in his bowling hand which will also rule him out of this week's match against England Lions – an attritional effort from an all-seam attack did the trick.