Cricket: Australia one wicket from victory

ADELAIDE - Some stout resistance from New Zealand's lower order delayed the inevitable but Australia were poised for another crushing test victory at lunch on day five of the second test today.

Chasing 464 for victory, the tourists were hanging on grimly at the end of the first session on 243 for nine, hoping forecasts for afternoon rain prove accurate.

Daniel Vettori led the rearguard action and deservedly posted his eighth test half-century -- and first against Australia -- with a seven-run flurry off Darren Lehmann 10 minutes before the interval.

However, he fell on the last ball of the session for 59 when a leading edge from spinner Lehmann was snaffled by Jason Gillespie at deep mid-off.

Vettori upstaged his top order colleagues, scoring six boundaries among his 64-ball 50, and was supported by James Franklin's 13 and fellow spinner Paul Wiseman, who was not out on 11.

He will be joined by Chris Martin after lunch.

Only rain could save New Zealand after overnight batsmen Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum failed to push on from promising starts late yesterday.

Oram was out to the ninth ball of the day, edging Glenn McGrath to Adam Gilchrist after one run was added to the overnight score of 149 for five.

The allrounder could not add to his 40 while McCullum added only two before hobbling off for 36 -- leg before wicket to Gillespie for the second time in the match.

McCullum copped a blow on the knee roll the ball before and was clearly in pain when his 66-minute vigil ended in the fourth over of the day.

- NZPA