Aussies Crush NZ

Australia’s bowlers have blasted New Zealand off the park to take the 1st trans-Tasman test by an innings and 156 runs.

The two tail-end heroes, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, continued on from where they had left off the day before, scoring runs and frustrating the Kiwis. Gillespie brought up his maiden test fifty with an inside edge down to fine-leg for four.

Martin finally ended the partnership when Glenn McGrath tried one too many pull shots and was caught at square leg for 61, leaving Gillespie at the other end not out on 54. Their remarkable partnership yielded 114 runs, extending the Australian total to 585.

The Kiwi openers, Mark Richardson and Matthew Sinclair, strolled to the crease facing a deficit of 232 runs. Within 3 overs, they both found themselves back in the dressing room after falling to McGrath. Richardson edged the 5th ball of the innings to Gilchrist at slip, out for 4 runs, while Sinclair was trapped LBW to the last ball McGrath’s 2nd over, without having scored to leave the New Zealanders reeling on 2/7.

McGrath picked up a third wicket, that of captain Stephen Fleming for 11 thanks to a stunning third slip catch to Justin Langer.

Nathan Astle and Scott Styris provided some form of resistance until just before lunch when an impressive Shane Warne snared Styris lbw for 7 with one that straightened.

Things didn’t get better after lunch when Astle was caught at first slip by Warne off the bowling of Kasprowicz for 17. First innings hero Jacob Oram fell to Warne soon after to a somewhat unfortunate dismissal, the ball rebounding off his arm onto the back of his bat popping up to Hayden, who gleefully accepted the catch, leaving New Zealand on 6/55

Gillespie was fortunate to pick up the wicket of Brendon McCullum caught behind, after it was revealed the ball had actually come off a crack, not the edge of his blade. McCullum handled it with extraordinary grace, walking off without a word.

McMillan, who is on the verge of being dropped, failed for a second time in the match, falling LBW to Gillespie. He was lucky to survive the proceeding delivery, after replays showed that he had inside-edged the delivery to Gilchrist, who gave McMillan a mouthful for not walking, McMillan inturn returned the serve and it wasn’t until umpire Bucknor intervened that the heated exchange was brought to a close.

The tourists now found themselves on 8/72 and Warne had no troubles in wrapping things up, taking the wickets of Daniel Vettori for 2 and Chris Martin for a duck, ending the New Zealand innings on 74, 154 runs behind the required total to make the Australians bat again.

It was a thoroughly impressive performance from all four of the home side’s bowlers. Warne ending with 4 wickets and McGrath 3.

The Kiwis will need to improve rapidly to put up a fight in the coming Adelaide test, which begins on Friday, 26th of November.

Match Summary

New Zealand 353 all out
JDP Oram 126, MS Kasprowicz 4/90, SK Warne 4/97
Australia 585
MJ Clarke 141, AC Gilchrist 126, GD McGrath 61, JN Gillespie 54*CS Martin 4/141, DL Vettori 4/154
New Zealand – Second Innings 75 all out
SK Warne 4/15, GD McGrath 3/18, JN Gillespie 2/19

Australia wins by an innings and 156 runs.


Posted by Alex