Cricket: No scraps of salvation for New Zealand after Sunday roast

ADELAIDE - After spending two days on their knees before the unforgiving cricket world champions, New Zealand may have finally expected salvation on a Sunday in Australia's City of Churches.

Instead, the tourists risk another test defeat of biblical proportions after meekly crumbling on an Adelaide Oval pitch regarded as the batsmen's paradise among the Australian test venues.

Thumped by an innings and 156 runs in Brisbane last week, New Zealand offered little fight on day three of the second instalment today.

They trailed by 324 on the first innings after yet another weak batting display, and the deficit was inflated to 381 after Australia made a trouble-free 57 without loss in the 21 overs before stumps.

 

Opener Matthew Hayden became the first batsmen to score 1000 runs in a calendar year a fourth successive time, while first innings double century-maker Justin Langer, who disabled two seagulls with a searing cut shot, was unbeaten on 31.

Rain is predicted on the fifth day on Tuesday, though should the heavens open it may be too late.

New Zealand lost five wickets for 76 amid a disastrous middle session to negate any respectability earned from a solid morning.

Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle navigated New Zealand to 140 for three at lunch -- with night watchman Paul Wiseman the only casualty for 11 -- but when Glenn McGrath outfoxed New Zealand's most experienced batsmen in quick succession, Australia's imposing 575 for eight was a mere blip on the sweltering horizon.

New Zealand eventually limped to 251 thanks to some late hitting from an ill Scott Styris, and were only spared the ignominy of following on when Ricky Ponting opted to post a target.

Their big hope Fleming stroked nine fours in reaching his 36th test half-century, before adopting a more circumspect approach.

The captain seemed to lose concentration after lunch and was teased out for 83 by McGrath's last delivery of a nagging over.

Fleming sought to pull out of a prod but the ball clipped the toe of his bat for Adam Gilchrist to end the captain's knock 17 short of a ninth test century.

He walked before being given out by umpire Steve Bucknor, adding spice to an issue that has been ever-present since the first test in Brisbane last week.

Fleming's departure put the onus on Astle to construct the big score, but he again failed to make Australia pay after receiving two lives before he got into his stride.

Astle was fortunate to survive a leg before decision when on two after England's David Shepherd ignored Shane Warne's confident appeal.

He had more luck on 11 when Hayden, at first slip, dropped a sharp chance to his right to prolong Warne's wait for his 550th test victim.

The Cantabrian, who had not passed 50 in his last nine innings, brought up an overdue milestone with a classic cover drive off McGrath -- only to fall four balls later for 52 when he was suckered in by the veteran's slower ball.

Astle, on 52, spooned the delivery to Langer at short mid-wicket, to immediately reward a deliberate field change and leave New Zealand listing at 178 for five.

A steady procession of Blacks Caps then came and went as Jason Gillespie followed McGrath's example from the River End.

Gillespie took wickets in the first two overs of his new spell, removing Jacob Oram for 12, caught at the wicket by Gilchrist.

Brendon McCullum was trapped in front for 10 and then Warne finally reached his latest milestone when James Franklin padded up to a ripping leg break on seven.

Styris, troubled by a middle ear infection which affects his balance, made a belated entry at No 10 and managed the third top score of 28 when he holed out to Michael Clarke in the deep to give McGrath his fourth wicket.



- NZPA