Stewart Saviour For England

Stewart, 40, has only Graham Gooch ahead of him in the list of the leading batsmen and will resume unbeaten on 67 not out after England faltered at 156 for five in the second Test with Zimbabwe.

The former England captain shared an unbeaten century stand for the sixth wicket with Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath, who closed on 68, his second successive half-century as England closed on 298-5.

Douglas Hondo ran through England's middle-order in the middle session, claiming three wickets for eight in 11 balls as England's good start in Chester-le-Street was eroded.

After Nasser Hussain won his ninth toss in 12 Tests, England were 146 for two when Hondo made the breakthrough in the 49th over on a placid surface.

It arrived through some good fortune as Mark Butcher chopped onto his stumps three short of his half-century.

In his following over Hondo, in just his third Test, removed Robert Key as he miscued a pull and was adjudged to have been caught cleanly by Grant Flower diving forward at midwicket by television umpire Peter Willey, while Hussain feathered an edge behind.

But Stewart fought back, beginning with a flurry of boundaries. A four off his pads took him past the 19 he needed to surpass David Gower as England's second highest Test run-scorer.

He prospered alongside McGrath, who enjoyed a life on 32 when a top-edged pull off Andy Blignaut was dropped by Price at long leg.

Both batsmen reached their half-centuries at similar pace, McGrath's taking two deliveries more than Stewart's 99-ball effort.

Zimbabwe should have ended the stand in the early evening gloom when Streak found the edge of Stewart's bat but Sean Ervine spilled the routine chance at first slip.

The same fielder had held on in the morning session when Michael Vaughan failed once again, caught behind nibbling at a Streak outswinger.

Opening partner Marcus Trescothick, who gained six runs for a slog-sweep against Price which Blignaut palmed over the rope, fell in unfortunate circumstances when, in attempting another sweep at the spinner, he gloved down the leg-side to wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu.

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