Rashid sparkles in Lions draw

Adil Rashid removed both openers and Ross Taylor

Adil Rashid halted New Zealand’s winning momentum and served another reminder of his talents by taking three of the four wickets to fall on the fourth evening at the Rose Bowl.

The 20-year-old Yorkshire leg-spinner’s wickets included the prized scalps of opening batsmen Jamie How and Aaron Redmond, who had seemed immovable after putting on 150 for the first wicket.

Having beaten Essex convincingly last week, the tourists were hopeful of beating England’s second-string ahead of the first Test, which begins at Lord’s on Thursday.

And though the Black Caps never threatened to reach a challenging victory target of 368 off a minimum of 75 overs, their top order showed some fight amid accusations that they would prove cannon fodder for England, concluding on 201 for four.

The Lions resumed on 275 for five, 282 ahead of New Zealand, hoping to declare on a challenging total.

They achieved their objective thanks to the aggressive strokeplay of Nottinghamshire’s Graeme Swann, who hit a quickfire half-century to allow Rob Key to declare nearly an hour before lunch.

Rashid fell in the second over of the morning, adding only six runs to his overnight 23 when he attempted to pull a short ball from Chris Martin and edged behind.

His demise brought opener Michael Carberry back to the crease after his bout of cramp on Saturday, brought on while celebrating his hundred.

Michael Carberry suffered an embarassing celebration to his century but enhanced his standing

Carberry added eight more runs to his 100 before becoming the second victim of the day when he also attempted to pull a short ball, this time from Tim Southee, and was caught at the wicket.

With the end of the innings in sight Swann took on the New Zealand attack and hammered seven fours and a six in his 52.

Swann reached the milestone with a reverse-sweep for four off Jeetan Patel, but he attempted to repeat the shot and was caught at backward square-leg to prompt the declaration and leave the tourists chasing a formidable target.

Needing a solid start if they were to have any chance of chasing down their target, New Zealand were provided with a platform by How and Redmond.

But the loss of four wickets in 13 overs effectively ended the tourists’ hopes of victory with leg-spinner Rashid enhancing his flourishing reputation by dismissing both openers.

Redmond hit a brilliant first innings century to ensure a Test debut at Lord’s, barring injury.

His father Rodney played one Test for New Zealand in 1973, scoring 107 and 56 against Pakistan at Auckland, but his career was scuppered by a failure to adapt to contact lenses.

Redmond junior eventually fell attempting to accelerate after tea and mis-timed a drive straight to mid-on for 64.

How followed just six overs later when he advanced down the pitch to Rashid and was comfortably stumped by wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Rashid claimed his third wicket when he earned an lbw decision against Ross Taylor and James Marshall fell in similar circumstances when he was beaten for pace and rapped on the pads by Chris Tremlett.

Stand-in captain Brendon McCullum displayed his hitting power by launching Rashid for a straight six, but he accepted the draw with an hour’s play remaining.