The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : New Zealand in trouble

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

New Zealand in trouble

WELLINGTON, MARCH 21. Rain might do what New Zealand's batsmen and bowlers couldn't — prevent Australia from winning the second cricket Test.

Showers washed out the first and last sessions of the fourth day on Monday, saving the Kiwis for the moment as they followed-on 326 runs behind.

Australia used the single session available to it on Monday to bowl New Zealand out for 244 after the host had resumed its first innings at 122 for four, replying to Australia's 570 for 8 declared.

Tea was taken at the fall of New Zealand's last wicket. But before the follow-on could be practically enforced — and before New Zealand could begin to bat again — misty rain cloaked the Basin Reserve and play was abandoned.

Almost two full days — the entire first day and 2-1-2 sessions on days three and four — have now been lost to rain.

Only three sessions remain for Australia to dismiss New Zealand and complete match and series victories. But that is if it doesn't rain on Tuesday, when more drizzly rain and showers have been forecast. Australia won the first match of the three-Test series by nine wickets in Christchurch.

New Zealand's first innings dissolved in five hours, 24 minutes and its history of second-innings failures suggests Australia may go into the final Test in Auckland on the weekend with the series decided.

Four players — Lou Vincent, James Franklin, Daniel Vettori and the most unlikely batting hero, Chris Martin who averages fewer than two runs per innings in Tests — attempted a rearguard action on Monday to stall Australia's drive to victory.

Vital partnership

Vincent and Franklin, the nightwatchman, stuck at the crease for almost half of the day's only session to buy their team time, which had become a more valuable commodity than runs.

They battled the Australian bowlers for 85 minutes, putting on 58 for the fifth wicket, before Michael Kasprowicz made the double breakthrough which secured Australia's grip on the match.

Kasprowicz removed Franklin for 26 and Vincent for 63 in a vital spell which deprived New Zealand of any hope of avoiding the follow-on. Both batsmen nicked to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, leaving New Zealand 166 for five, then 180 for six and hopelessly in deficit.

Craig McMillan (20) and Brendon McCullum (3) made quick exits as Shane Warne cast his spell again over the New Zealand lower order. When O'Brien was out for five, bowled by Jason Gillespie, the innings seemed set to end meekly and in hopeless disarray.

But Vettori and Martin offered spirited resistance, adding 32 for the last wicket. Vettori scored all of those runs and made a gritty contribution of 45.

The left-handed Vettori defied the Australian bowlers for 71 minutes, farming the strike, protecting Martin and hitting eight fours, a hint of defiance. He finally fell victim to Warne, who ended with three for 69 from 28.1 overs. Kasprowicz, who finished with three for 42 now has 99 Test scalps. — AP

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