Australia posts tenth straight Test win

HAMILTON, APRIL 3. Australia wrapped up a series clean sweep and won its 10th consecutive Test match with a consummate six-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third Test here today.

Steve Waugh's Australians needed just an hour's play on the fourth day to seal the victory with Justin Langer scoring his seventh Test century to remain 122 not out off 122 balls in Australia's 212 for four.

Langer scored the third fastest century by an Australian off just 102 balls, ranking behind Jack Gregory and Ray Lindwall.

Today's triumph followed victories by 62 runs and six wickets in the opening two Tests of the series in Auckland and Wellington. Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who set an Australian record of 10 dismissals for the match and hit a match-turning 75 in the first innings, was named `man of the match'.

``I believe this is only the beginning and we can play better than that,'' Waugh said after another pinnacle performance.

``We're on the verge of something special. We've got a couple of months off but when we come back for that first Test against West Indies in Brisbane (in November), we're going to be fired up and you're going to see us play some exciting cricket.''

``You can achieve anything you want. It's a matter of whether you want to do the hard work and believe it. We did that - so there's no reason we can't win the series in Australia next year exactly the same way.''

Australia must win in Brisbane to equal the West Indies' world record of 11 consecutive wins. It was an incredible victory by the all-conquering Australians, who were tottering at 29 for five in their first innings before Damien Martyn's Test best 89 and Gilchrist's free-wheeling knock turned things decisively around.

In the end the Australians won with one and three- quarters of a day to spare. It capped an outstanding summer of cricket for Australia, whitewashing Pakistan, India and New Zealand in three- Test series and beating Zimbabwe in a one-off Test in Zimbabwe last October.

Waugh was relieved for the end of the summer's cricket after leading his country through 13 Tests in four different countries in seven months.

``I'm glad it's over. It's been a long haul but we've played some great cricket,'' he said. ``I'm really pleased with the progress some of the players have made. But I feel mentally fatigued. We've had cricket in 20 of the last 22 months and eight overseas tours and I'm looking forward to having a so-called normal life for a couple of months.'' New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming admitted it was hard to accept the 3-0 whitewash after his team showed plenty of fight during three gripping Test matches. They had chances to upset Australia in every match, especially when Waugh was dismissed on Saturday with the score at a perilous 29 for five.

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