Shreyas S. Bhide
reports that Australia continued their woeful batting performance, at the Gabba, Brisbane, even as their opponents, the Black Caps’ shared the same fate on day two. Rarely does a modern day cricket buff get to see a test match where the third innings starts on day two itself (unless of course it involves Bangladesh), and this was one of those rare sights.
Simon Katich stayed unbeaten on a well made 67 even though he fell short of partners during Australia’s second innings in the first Test against New Zealand at Brisbane on Friday. Australian batsmen struggled to stay at the wicket for long as they ended day two at a score of 131 for the loss of six wickets, scoring at an average of 3.44 runs per over. For the Black Caps, Pace man Chris Martin was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed three wickets while Iain O’Brien dismissed two Aussie batters. Aaron Redmond ran out Michael Clarke for 9.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand displayed poor batting, when they had the Aussies on the map on day one. Even though Aussie pace man Mitchell Johnson missed out on claiming a hat-trick, he dismissed four Kiwi batsmen as New Zealand were bundled out for 156 runs shortly before tea. Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Shane Watson claimed two wickets each.
Openers Jamie How and Jesse Ryder shared the highest partnership (37) of the New Zealand innings. Ryder who was put down on 11 when by Brad Haddin at first slip, poked at an outside the off stump delivery to hand Watson his first victim. Ross Taylor coming in after the fall of How’s (14) wicket top scored for New Zealand with a knock of 40 runs off 51 balls including 7 fours. At lunch, New Zealand were 108 for 4 with Taylor and Daniel Flynn looking in good touch.
Taylor became Lee’s 299th Test victim when he was lbw to an in swinger in the first over after lunch. Johnson picked up Brendan McCullum, caught at slip for 8, and following Taylor’s and McCullum’s dismissal in the first over after tea, New Zealand saw a collapse in their bating ranks and the middle and lower order batsmen were unable to reach anywhere close to Australia’s first innings score of 214, and were all out for 156, trailing by 58 runs.
In reply Australia started their reply on a rocky patch. They lost Hayden and Ponting in quick succession. Hayden was done in by a beautiful off cutter by Chris Martin, while Ponting went for an pull shot when there was place for none. Michael Hussey suffered from bad decision making as he was given out caught behind even as the ball had only brushed his pads. Later, a spirited direct hit from Redmond saw Michael Clarke walking back to the pavilion for just 9. Andrew Symonds who cut and swashed at anything that had room, edged behind trying to hook an O’Brien delivery. Shane Watson was trapped lbw by Chris Martin later in the day. Australia closed the day with a lead of 189, which was a handy but hardly intimidating.
The match is headed towards a result but whose favor will the balance tilt in on day three remains to be seen.
Catch the sequence of events on day one of the first Test between New Zealand and Australia:
New Zealand Have Australia on the Mat
