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Alec Stewart and Anthony McGrath scored undefeated half-centuries to restore sanity to England's performance on Thursday as they reached 298 for five against Zimbabwe on the first day of the second Test.
The pair put on 142 after the previously erratic Douglas Hondo had turned the game on its head by taking three middle-order wickets in an 11-ball spell during the afternoon.
Stewart, aged 40 and in his 128th match, and McGrath, in only his second, stuck to the basics after England, 1-0 up in the two-match series, had slumped from 109 for one to 156 for five.
Stewart finished with 67 and his partner, who made 69 in his debut innings at Lord's last month, was 68 not out.
Hondo, bowling fast medium, took three for 66 off 16 overs.
Wayward in the morning, he removed Mark Butcher (47), Robert Key (4) and skipper Nasser Hussain (18) as England struggled to 173 for five at tea on the opening day.
The home side had looked in control on 96 for one at lunch before Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak changed the tone by introducing left arm spinner Raymond Price.
Bowling flat and quick, Price helped to slow the run rate before removing the unlucky Marcus Trescothick (43) off an attempted sweep, the ball bouncing via pad and glove into wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu's gloves.
England still looked well placed at 145 for two despite the loss of momentum before left hander Mark Butcher needlessly chopped on, attempting to cut a ball too close to him, and Robert Key mis-pulled high off his bat, the third umpire confirming Grant Flower's catch as he dived forward at square leg.
Hussain, having made 19 which included a straight six off Price, was then squared up by Hondo and fenced behind.
The morning had suggested a repeat of the first Test as the Zimbabwean bowlers failed to find their direction or length.
Hondo in particular had looked out of his depth, spearing the ball wide of the off stump and rarely forcing the batsmen to play.
Michael Vaughan, the world's top run scorer last year, was the one wicket to fall in the morning after a strange innings.
He took 11 balls to get off the mark, then hit five fours off 15 deliveries, the best an audacious drive over cover off Andy Blignaut, before he aimed for another off the back foot against Heath Streak and snicked into Sean Ervine's hands at first slip.
Vaughan could have fallen for a duck but his turn to leg off an Andy Blignaut half-volley hit Stuart Carlisle on the knee at short leg before bouncing to safety.
Chester-le-Street, home of county side Durham, is staging its first Test. It is England's first new venue since 1902.
