Jubilant England coast to victory

DARREN GOUGH was the hero in Wellington this morning as England finally buried the frustrations of a winter of discontent beneath a wave of jubilant celebration in the second Test.

Gough took four for 52 to go with his first-innings return of five for 40, including a glorious spell of four for 10 in 21 balls before lunch, as England clinched victory by an innings and 68 runs by dismissing New Zealand for 191.

The moment that Mike Atherton's team craved came 25 minutes after lunch, Andy Caddick dismissing Chris Cairns for 22 at 1.40 p.m. thanks to a third catch by Nick Knight at second slip.

Atherton and his players were understandably ecstatic, and during Gough's morning burst they had greeted each wicket with a mounting excitement which betrayed their release of emotion.

In Bulawayo before Christmas they had been denied Test victory by just one run the match being drawn with scores level after a thrilling last-afternoon run chase.

And a fortnight ago in Auckland a seemingly certain England victory had been dramatically snatched away by a remarkable last-wicket stand of more than two-and-a-half hours between Nathan Astle and number 11 Danny Morrison.

Yesterday Astle, a century-maker in that first Test, was Gough's third victim as the Yorkshire fast bowler steamed in with the new ball in the irrepressible manner that used to be associated with Ian Botham in his prime.

Gough had made the initial breakthrough yesterday with his fourth ball after Atherton had withdrawn Dominic Cork after he delivered just two overs following the decision to take the new ball. The Kiwis were then 147 for four and building solidly on their overnight total of 125 for four.

New Zealand skipper Lee Germon was bowled playing into his stumps and then, with the second ball of his second over, he ended Blair Pocock's stubborn five-and-a-half hour 64 thanks to a fine catch above his head at second slip by Knight.

Gough struck twice, too, in his fourth over, Alec Stewart diving acrobatically in front of first slip to send back Astle and then Simon Doull being held third ball for nought by the trusty Knight.

At lunch the Kiwis were 177 for eight, but then they had also been eight wickets down at lunch on the final day in Auckland. This time, though, England were not to be denied and, fittingly, it was Caddick who provided the final-blows.

Caddick had bowled brilliantly, without any luck, before lunch but now he yorked Geoff Allott for two and then made sure that the fickle Wellington weather which had delayed the start this morning for 30 minutes was not going to provide any last-minute tricks.

It was England's first overseas win since Adelaide in January 1995 ending a span of nine Tests without victory and Atherton's first win since June last year when India were beaten at Edgbaston.

Atherton said afterwards: "We were one ball away from winning at Bulawayo and then one ball away again at Auckland. Winning here is just a big relief really and as an individual I'm very pleased to be part of the team that has come through after those frustrations.

"People say we had a bad time in Zimbabwe, but in Test cricket we have played well and if you keep up that level of performance then sooner or later you will start winning. The players have come in for a bit of stick but they have reacted really well.

"Darren Gough and Andy Caddick both bowled brilliantly.

They knocked New Zealand over in the first innings and then they came to the party again today. I never though we were going to have a repeat of Auckland. On that pitch I didn't think their batsmen could keep out our bowlers."

Delighted England coach David Lloyd said: "It's been overdue. We've worked really hard for it. I think we've been an intense team in this game and there's more to come. We can build on this. We've set the standards.

"I've had some pressure and people said how bad things went in Zimbabwe. But I think we could have won each Test match we've played. Everything's gone swimmingly in this game apart from the weather and I've had one eye on the skies for a lot of the time. It's raining now. We could still have been out there and been disappointed again."

Gough said: "We did well today to get them out. They were playing well but then we caught them with the new ball. It was hard work into the wind but I got the ball in the right place enough times and they nicked them. It would have been nice to finish with 10 (wickets), but it didn't stop the excitement when Nick Knight held that last catch. I was just glad and relieved to get a win.

"I now want to get another five wickets in the first innings of the next Test. It's going to be hard work but we're winning 1-0 now and we'll be going for 2-0."

Gough stressed that the victory had been a team effort and said: "All the bowlers have done well. "It takes five bowlers to win a Test match and that's what we've done and if we can keep this attacking going during the summer then hopefully we're going to do well."