Close New Zealand 151 for 5 (Harris 55*, McMillan 41, Caddick 4-57)
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He's not supposed to dismiss batsmen in the first innings, but today Andy Caddick took the four wickets he needed to reach 200 in Tests and give England the upper hand on a rain-affected day.

But some of his thunder was stolen by Chris Harris, who in his first Test since November 1999 rescued New Zealand from the depths of 19 for 4 with an unbeaten half-century that was as high on substance as it was low on style. A combination of rain and bad light stopped play once and for all at 4.20pm, but it had been another entertaining cameo of a day.

Harris bowls off the wrong foot, but today he batted off neither, repeatedly jumping into his forward defensive as if James Foster was saying "boo" to him every ball. The MCC coaching manual could be heard rustling with indignation, but as a way of countering the late swing and seam that England's bowlers were finding, it was extremely effective.

It was also crucial. Stephen Fleming won his third toss of the series, and for the first time decided to put his faith in his batsmen. After just 53 deliveries, that faith looked a little blind. In the fifth over of the day Caddick bowled Mark Richardson with an absolute peach that nipped back through the gate as Richardson went on the drive (12 for 1). Richardson was out for 5 and his Test average dipped below 50.

Matthew Hoggard then had Stephen Fleming taken via bat and thigh-pad by Mark Ramprakash at short leg (17 for 2). Fleming made 1, and took his scrawny tally in the series to 75 runs in five innings.

Then Caddick had one of those special overs of his. He bowled a nervy Lou Vincent through an alarming gate for 10 (17 for 3), and four balls later had Nathan Astle caught at third slip by Graham Thorpe, who dived full-stretch to his left to cling on to the catch of the series (19 for 4). Astle had made 2 and New Zealand had lost 4 for 7 in 28 balls. Caddick brooded menacingly on 199.

Harris left everything alone outside off stump with bloody-minded regularity, and found a more solid partner in Craig McMillan. The runs came slowly at first, but McMillan hit three leg-side fours in one over from Andrew Flintoff, then two more boundaries - through square leg, and over cover - in the next, from Hoggard. The 50 stand came up, of which Harris had made a patient 9.

With one over to go before lunch, Nasser Hussain tossed the ball to Caddick. And as so often in this series he struck immediately, trapping McMillan plumb in front as he aimed to leg. Caddick had become the ninth England bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, and he sank to his knees in celebration. McMillan was out for 41 - the fourth time in six innings he had failed to convert a 40 into a 50 - and New Zealand went into lunch at 86 for 5.

The weather meant that only 22.2 overs were possible after the interval, but in that time Harris and Adam Parore continued the New Zealand fightback. Parore worked his first ball through midwicket for four, quadrupling in one stroke his run tally for the series, while Harris even began to middle a few. But he was fortunate to escape on 28, when he gloved Hoggard via his pad to Ramprakash at short leg - almost a carbon copy of the Fleming dismissal - only for umpire Doug Cowie to rule not out. That would have made it 106 for 6 with the debutant Andre Adams plus the tail to come, but instead Harris went from strength to strength.

He crashed Caddick through extra cover, then pulled Hoggard twice in two balls behind square. But the shot of the day was a back-foot cover slash off Hoggard that brought up his 50 and another 50 partnership.

But the light got worse shortly after tea, and the players trooped off with the boos of the Barmy Army ringing in their ears. It was probably just frustration. At one point England must have thought they would skittle New Zealand for 100. But on a wicket that has so far helped the seamers, a score of 151 for 5 could turn into something quite challenging.

Teams

New Zealand 1 Mark Richardson, 2 Lou Vincent, 3 Stephen Fleming (capt), 4 Chris Harris, 5 Nathan Astle, 6 Craig McMillan, 7 Adam Parore (wk), 8 Andre Adams, 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Daryl Tuffey, 11 Chris Drum.

England 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Michael Vaughan, 3 Mark Butcher, 4 Nasser Hussain (capt), 5 Graham Thorpe, 6 Mark Ramprakash, 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 James Foster (wk), 9 Ashley Giles, 10 Andy Caddick, 11 Matthew Hoggard.

Lawrence Booth is assistant editor of Wisden.com.

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