Steve Waugh’s men forge ahead

It was tough going for the Australians bidding to win their eighth consecutive Test match, but drawn into a compelling battle with the gritty Black Caps on a pitch which has taken turn from day one.

At stumps, Damien Martyn (10) and Adam Gilchrist (4), Australia’s last two recognised batsmen, were fending off a probing Kiwi spin attack, led by 21-year-old left-armer Daniel Vettori.

Vettori, who snared 5-62 off 25 overs in the first innings, worried the Australians and had 3-38 off 21 overs to take his Test wicket tally to 99 in his 29th Test.

He was just four wickets away from becoming his country’s all-time leading spinner as he closed in on John Bracewell’s 102 Test dismissals.

Australia’s target was to set the Kiwis a chase of around 230-250 runs on a pitch where runs have been hard to score. Mark Waugh is the top scorer in this Test so far with an unbeaten 72. Shane Warne would be particularly looking forward to having a crack at the Black Caps on the spin-friendly Eden Park pitch as he was just two wickets away from passing fast bowling great Dennis Lillee to become Australia’s all-time leading wicket-taker.

Warne took 3-68 today in New Zealand’s first innings to improve his Test career tally to 354, just one behind Lillee’s 355. The record looks set to be broken over the next days.

Australia slowly extended their lead but not without losing wickets along the way today.

Michael Slater (6) went cheaply again, spooning a catch off Chris Cairns to Matthew Horne at mid-off while Greg Blewett was never at ease and became Vettori’s first victim of the innings when he edged to Craig Spearman at slip for eight.

Justin Langer made another strong contribution, scoring 47 in 82 minutes following on his swashbuckling 46 off 47 balls in the first dig. He was given a mouthful by Vettori to send him on his way after he was out to a skied catch to a running Nathan Astle in the deep.

Captain Steve Waugh (10) was caught and bowled by finger-spinner Paul Wiseman and Mark Waugh looked to be handling things adequately following on from his controlled first innings until he was out to a magnificent delivery from Vettori which got extra bounce and found a faint edge to wicketkeeper Adam Parore for 25.

Earlier, fast bowler Glenn McGrath, kept out of the attack by skipper Waugh for 80 minutes today, removed the last three New Zealand batsmen to finish with 4-33 off 11.1 overs to help Australia to a vital first innings lead. He now has 280 wickets in his 60th Test.

SCOREBOARD

Australia (1st innings) 214

New Zealand (1st innings; overnight 26-4): M Horne c Blewett b McGrat 3, C Spearman c Martyn b Lee 12, M Sinclair lbw b Warne 8, P Wiseman b Lee 1, S Fleming st Gilchrist b Miller 21, N Astle c M Waugh b Warne 31, C McMillan lbw b Warne 6, C Cairns c Gilchrist b McGrath 35, A Parore c Gilchrist b McGrath 11, D Vettori Not Out 15, S Doull c Lee b McGrath 12. Extras: (b4,lb1,nb3) 8. Total: (all out in 62.1 overs) 163

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-25, 3-25, 4-26, 5-80, 6-80, 7-102, 8-134,9-143.Bowling:McGrath 11.1-2-33-4 (nb-2), Miller 22-8-38-1, Warne 22-4-68-3 (nb1), Lee 7-4-19-2.

Australia (2nd innings): G Blewett c Spearman b Vettori 8, M Slater c Horne b Cairns 6, J Langer c Astle b Vettori 47, M Waugh c Parore b Vettori 25, S Waugh c and b Wiseman 10, D Martyn batting 10, A Gilchrist batting 4. Extras: (b3, lb1)4. Total: (for five wickets, 49 overs) 114

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-46, 3-67, 4-81, 5-107.

Bowling: Cairns 4-1-13-1, Wiseman 21-4-56-1, Vettori 21-10-38-3, Doull 3-1-3-0.