Cricket: Fleming wins battle but McGrath on top again

NZ Captain Stephen Fleming hits a ball off Australia's Shane Warne. Picture / Fotopress

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming at last defied Glenn McGrath but the great Australian fast bowler had the final say on the first day of the third cricket test here today.

Fleming's 65 was his first half-century in five series innings but his team lost three wickets for 15 runs late in the day as McGrath strangled the life out of New Zealand's innings which staggered to 199 for five at stumps at Eden Park.

McGrath had only debutante James Marshall's wicket -- his 493rd in tests -- to show for his 24 overs of toil but it was another vintage display, including 17 maidens, in his figures of one for 20 on a dead surface.

"It was an incredible spell from Glenn, no question," Australian coach John Buchanan said.

"I think we've certainly got our noses in front. New Zealand had laid a platform and there was an opportunity for them to really get on with the game."

Had it not been for Fleming and Hamish Marshall's third wicket stand of 126 in 204 minutes it could have been disastrous day for the home side, trailing 0-1 in the series.

After the pair fell within three overs, Marshall for 76, Lou Vincent soon followed, bowled by Jason Gillespie for two not offering a shot, when he and Nathan Astle cautiously approached stumps.

"I was surprised by their approach at the end ... particularly the partnership of 11 off 58 balls between Astle and Vincent," Buchanan said of New Zealand's run rate of 2.21.

After scoring 36 runs in four innings, Fleming dropped from opener to No 4 today and was rewarded with a grafting 37th test half-century.

McGrath has had Fleming's number in this series, skittling him leg before wicket three successive times.

But Fleming gritted his teeth and got through a searching spell of six overs from McGrath after lunch when he faced five maidens and scored just one run as he took 50 minutes and 33 balls to move from 32 to 33.

He later survived a huge leg before wicket appeal when offering no shot to legspinner Shane Warne on 43, just before the tea break, then reached 50 off 146 balls.

He and Hamish Marshall lifted New Zealand from 53 for two after the early loss of Craig Cumming for five and James Marshall for 29.

Cumming was adjudged leg before wicket by English umpire Jeremy Lloyds, a late replacement for compatriot Mark Benson. Cumming did not offer a shot to Jason Gillespie, and although the ball seamed back sharply it looked to be too high.

The Marshall brothers became the first identical twins to play a test together and added 38 in 21 overs before McGrath broke their stand.

After a promising 89-minute stay, James Marshall guided a short ball to Matthew Hayden at gully and New Zealand were teetering.

Fleming and Hamish Marshall put on just 75 in 32 overs in the middle session as McGrath and Warne applied the heat on a low and slow pitch offering some seam movement.

Hamish Marshall passed 50 for the second time in the series off 135 balls, survived a missed stumping off Warne on 76 but his luck ran out soon afterwards.

Replays showed Marshall edged a bat-pad catch to Ricky Ponting off Warne but Lloyds gave him out leg before wicket.

"It was a bit of a battle and it wasn't pretty at times. It was one of those pitches where you never really felt in," Hamish Marshall said.

"There wasn't a lot of pace in it and they were bowling good areas as they always do, and putting us under pressure."

After all Fleming's hard work he was mortified to chop Michael Kasprowicz on to his stumps, having faced 169 balls and taken most of his eight boundaries off Warne, who he also lofted into the South Stand for his own six.

- NZPA