Cricket: Martyn, Gilchrist plunder as NZ let advantage slip

New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming was again let down by his bowlers as a Damien Martyn century gave Australia the day-two honours in the second cricket test at the Basin Reserve here today.

Fleming sent Australia in to bat under grey skies this morning but his bowlers -- bar spinner Daniel Vettori -- weren't accurate enough for long enough as the tourists reached 337 for five at stumps.

Martyn tipped his test average back up over 50 with his 12th test century -- his seventh in the past year and first against New Zealand -- ending the day 106 not out.

The last two hours was the killer for the home side, with Martyn and Adam Gilchrist flaying 90 off 89 balls for the sixth wicket as Gilchrist ended 45 not out off 46 balls.

"There was plenty in the wicket and we disappointed they were 91 for one after the first session," said Vettori who finished with two for 74 off 29 overs.

"We had a number of chances, then after the second session we were very happy with our position... but we let it slip a little too easily."

After the first day washout, Fleming's decision to bowl first should have been justified with the ball swinging around, but Australia were let off the hook to be 91 for one at lunch.

Chris Martin bowled an excellent eight-over opening spell but went wicketless after Justin Langer was dropped at slip by Fleming on nought.

At the other end James Franklin struggled with his direction into the wind and Iain O'Brien -- selected ahead of spinner Paul Wiseman -- provided few terrors early on.

New Zealand's only morning success came courtesy of Vettori who appeared as early as the 16th over, when he enticed a false sweep from Langer who ballooned a catch to gloveman Brendon McCullum on 46.

Replays showed Langer was unlucky, with the ball appearing to come off his wrist. But umpire David Shepherd, given a guard of honour by both teams ahead of his retirement next month, was adamant.

New Zealand took the middle session honours as Franklin returned with an excellent post-lunch spell downwind, causing Martyn early headaches and removing Matthew Hayden caught at cover for 61 after Vettori trapped captain Ricky Ponting lbw for nine.

The tourists lost three for 83 in the session as Nathan Astle chimed in with the key wicket of Michael Clarke, caught low at slip by Fleming for eight.

Just when Australia looked to be teetering at 163 for four, Simon Katich and Martyn added 84 off 20 overs before Franklin nicked out Katich with the second new ball for 35. Franklin ended with two for 94 with Martyn later singling him out as the best New Zealand bowler.

Martyn's only chances offered were two streaky french cuts in the 30s off O'Brien which just missed the stumps, before the final session carnage.

"There was definitely something there for their bowlers and luck probably didn't go their way today," Martyn said.

"A couple of catches went down and we played and missed a lot. It could easily have been a different day.

"But we've shown before that we can tough it out, and Gilly's there now which makes it dangerous for posting a big score tomorrow then trying to bowl them out."

The second new ball didn't work for Martin at the other end, with Martyn hammering four boundaries off an over to move into the 80s.

He raised three figures with his 16th boundary, a late cut off O'Brien, off 172 balls in 211 minutes.

Martyn and Gilchrist both edged just wide of first slip late in the day to sum up another day of what might have been for the hosts.

- NZPA