Cricket: Hayden early casualty but Australia steam ahead

6.20pm

Rookie pace bowler Kyle Mills claimed prolific opener Matthew Hayden but Australia still made a typically brisk response to New Zealand first innings of 353 by tea.

Mills, who had previously bowled only six overs at test level, removed Hayden, leg before wicket for eight, when the score was 16.

Hayden was trapped lbw replays suggested the ball may have passed over the stumps.

Justin Langer (34) and Australian captain Ricky Ponting (39) survived some anxious moments against the new ball but looked more assured as the middle session progressed and both struck six boundaries as Australia reached 84 for one at tea.

New Zealand could be left to rue a spurned half chance when a static Daniel Vettori took an uppish Ponting drive on the first bounce when the Australian skipper was still finding his feet.

To make matters worse for Mills, Ponting ended the over with consecutive boundaries, including a streaky edge through slip.

Mills, in only his second test, was the unlucky bowler -- the opportunity coming soon after the Aucklander was aghast when Ponting almost played on to his stumps.

Langer also had some nervous moments against Mills' new ball partner Chris Martin, who repeatedly beat the left handers outside edge before he too settled in. The West Australian also survived a confident appeal for caught behind when on 26 in batting hero Jacob Oram's first over.

New Zealand's credible first innings ended three balls after lunch when tailender Martin was caught by Ponting at silly point off Shane Warne for a duck, ending a valuable 36-run partnership with centurion Oram who was undefeated on a test-best 126.

New Zealand

First innings (overnight 250-7)

M Richardson c Ponting b Kasprowicz 19

M Sinclair c Ponting b Gillespie 69

S Fleming c Warne b Kasprowicz 0

S Styris c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 27

N Astle run out (Hayden/Clarke) 19

C McMillan c Gilchrist b Warne 23

J Oram not out 126

B McCullum std Gilchrist b Warne 10

D Vettori c Warne b Kasprowicz 21

K Mills c Hayden b Warne 29

C Martin c Ponting b Warne 0

Extras (1b, 2lb, 3w, 4nb) 10

Total (all out, 117.3 overs) 353

Fall: 26 (Richardson), 26 (Fleming), 77 (Styris), 138 (Astle), 138 (Sinclair), 180 (McMillan), 206 (McCullum), 264 (Vettori), 317 (Mills), 353 (Martin).

Bowling: G McGrath 27-4-67-0 (2nb), J Gillespie 29-7-84-1, M Kasprowicz 28-5-90-4 (2nb), S Warne 29.3-3-97-4 (3w), D Lehmann 4-0-12-0.

Australia

First innings

J Langer not out 34

M Hayden lbw Mills 8

R Ponting not out 39

Extras (3nb) 3

Total (for 1 wkt, 24 overs) 84

Fall: 16 (Hayden)

Bowling: C Martin 7-4-24-0 (2nb), K Mills 7-4-24-1, S Styris, 3-1-12-0, J Oram 5-1-18-0 (1nb), D Vettori 2-0-6-0.

- NZPA