Stewart became the second-highest Test run-scorer for England

Alec Stewart's 44th Test half-century saved England from embarrassment at the hands of Zimbabwe on the first day of Test cricket at Durham's Riverside ground.

Doug Hondo took three wickets in two overs just before tea as England's solid, if unspectacular, start was left in tatters at 156-5.

But Stewart was joined in an unbroken 142-run partnership with Anthony McGrath, who hit his second Test fifty in his second international appearance.

At stumps, Stewart was 67 not out, and McGrath had just overtaken him for an unbeaten 68.

In the process Stewart, in his 128th Test, passed David Gower's career aggregate of 8231 to become England's second-highest Test run-scorer, behind only Graham Gooch's 8900.

Impatience saw the downfall of their team-mates and the sixth-wicket pair were eager to avoid similar rushes of blood to the head.

I've always been a natural timer of the ball and today was no different Alec Stewart More England reaction

Both men survived chances, McGrath dropped at deep square leg off a top-edged pull when he had made 32 and Stewart put down at slip on 54.

But the main performance to set English pulses racing was medium-pacer Hondo's triple strike late in the afternoon.

Mark Butcher was the first of the trio after an uncomfortable 47, playing on with an attempted cut to end a partnership of 60 with skipper Nasser Hussain.

Have Your Say Will England prevail?

Robert Key only just had time to get off the mark with a cover-driven four before he mis-timed a pull to cover, a catch that had to be approved by Durham-born TV umpire Peter Willey.

And Hussain followed his team-mates back to the pavilion after a 54-ball 18, attempting to force Hondo on the on-side only to be caught off an edge.

Ten of Hussain's runs had come in a single over from Ray Price, a four and a six sailing back over the bowler's head.

Hondo took three quick wickets before tea Day one photo gallery Feature: Hondo turns hero

But the suffocating spinner played a large part in frustrating the hosts into playing injudicious shots.

One such was Marcus Trescothick's attempted sweep, which saw him glove to wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu exactly a year since he last scored a Test century, against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.

Michael Vaughan was the man out during the morning, caught at first slip off Heath Streak for 20, including three boundaries in a single over off Andy Blignaut.

England made a single change to their side, with Richard Johnson handed a debut ahead of James Kirtley.

The Chester-le-Street venue is the 87th, and the northernmost, to host a Test match, and the first new Test ground in England for 101 years.

England: Nasser Hussain (capt), Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Robert Key, Alec Stewart (wkt), Anthony McGrath, Ashley Giles, James Anderson, Steve Harmison, Richard Johnson