Kiwis crumble, Aussies extend lead

Australia find themselves in a commanding position at the end of day 3 after rolling NZ for just 251.

After beginning the day on 2/56, the tourists completed a well played first session thanks mainly to an impressive Steven Fleming, who looked in excellent form. The Kiwis lost only night watchman Paul Wiseman for 11, LBW to Kasprowicz.

Fleming passed his half-century with ease and looked right at home, while at the other end Nathan Astle was struggling against Warne, living on the edge after being lucky to survive an extremely confident LBW appeal.

He managed to survive with Fleming until lunch, the pair on 33 not out and 75 not out respectively and the score 3/140. The session yielding 84 runs for the loss of just Wiseman.

However, the second session turned out to be a nightmare for the New Zealanders, as the Australian bowlers proceeded to rip through their middle order.

Fleming was the first to go for a well-made 83, caught behind to McGrath. Just after reaching his half-century, Astle fell to McGrath for 52. He was followed by Oram, dismissed caught behind to Gillespie for just 12.

It all got worse for the Kiwis when McCullum was trapped on his crease by a Gillespie leg-cutter, out LBW for 10.

An unlucky Warne, who had toiled all day, sending down some magical deliveries, finally picked up the wicket he deserved, trapping Franklin LBW for 7, not offering a shot to a ball which spun prodigiously out of the rough.

The home side had completed a thoroughly impressive 27 overs, claiming 5 wickets and conceding just 76 runs.

Scott Styris, who came in down the order due to an inner-ear infection, began to build a frustrating partnership with Daniel Vettori. It was a simple plan, Vettori would stone-wall, while Styris scored the runs. The pair managed to survive 12 overs together before McGrath broke through with the wicket of Vettori, LBW for 20, the 4th LBW of the innings.

With Martin at the crease, Styris decided he needed to go for it and holed out to Clarke at square leg to McGrath for 28, ending the innings on 251, 324 runs behind the home side’s first innings total.

All four Australian bowlers bowled incredibly well, McGrath claiming 4 wickets, Gillespie 3, Kasprowicz 2 and Warne 1. All were accurate, consistent and overall world class.

Surprisingly, Ponting didn’t enforce the follow on and instead sent out Hayden and Langer in a bid to further extend their already massive lead.

The pair saw out the day and managed to add 57 together. Not only did the Aussies show the Kiwis no mercy, seagulls were in the firing line too when Langer launched into a full-blooded cut and killed two birds with one ball, literally.

He ended the day on 31 not out and Hayden 21, helping the Australians lead to 381.

Progress Score: Stumps Day 3

Australia: 8 for 575 dec (Langer 215, Lehmann 81, Vettori 5/152)

New Zealand: 251 (Fleming 83, McGrath 4/66, Gillespie 3/37)

Australia - 2nd innings: 0/57 (Langer 31*)

Australia leads New Zealand by 381 runs


Posted by Alex