Cricket: Oram pulls innings back from brink

By RICHARD BOOCK in Brisbane

Jacob Oram played one of his most important and emotional innings yesterday as New Zealand launched a rousing fightback in the first test against Australia.

The giant New Zealand allrounder turned in a king-sized performance with the bat when he struck a rollicking 126 not out and led New Zealand's first innings to relative respectability at 353; a much better proposition than seemed likely at 138 for five.

Only the second New Zealander, after Lou Vincent, to score a century in his first opportunity against Australia, Oram lost his grandfather in July, and had his parents in the crowd when he brought up the milestone.

The 26-year-old celebrated his second test hundred by taking off his helmet and turning his face to the heavens, and was visibly emotional when he walked off the field at lunch, with New Zealand looking much better placed at 352 for nine.

Stirred by the sight of the big man blazing three sixes after reaching his century, the New Zealand bowlers then applied some pressure to the much-acclaimed Australian batting line-up, although at 197 for four the hosts were still reasonably placed at the close of play.

The more sobering facts for New Zealand are that Damien Martyn is unbeaten on 59 and Michael Clarke is 31 not out, but the good news is that Mathew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann are already back in the hutch.

If anything, the New Zealand pace bowlers deserved even more success, as they beat the bat frequently in the oppressive Brisbane heat, swinging the ball effectively and causing all sorts of headaches for Langer and Ponting.

Oram was probably the most unfortunate with the ball, as television replays suggested he had Langer caught at the wicket, even though the paceman was unable to convince Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar.

New Zealand's effort would have pleased coach John Bracewell, who had gambled on playing Chris Martin and Kyle Mills ahead of Ian Butler, and had the satisfaction of watching the unlikely pair produce a demanding opening spell.

Mills' maiden test wicket wasn't a bad one either, arriving after a successful leg-before shout against Hayden, a dismissal that prompted a scratchy 69-run second-wicket salvage operation between Langer and Ponting - who ended with 51.

But just like New Zealand on the first day, the Australians lost wickets at terrible times, and particularly after the tea resumption, when Vettori ended Langer's charmed run by trapping him in front, and Ponting was well caught by Nathan Astle after miscuing a pull.

On a Gabba pitch that is offering less for the pace bowlers but more for the spinners as the test proceeds, New Zealand will be wary of the second-innings threat from Shane Warne, but mindful of Vettori's possible influence in the latter stages.

For all that, the fact they could even consider themselves still in the game last night had much to do with the fighting qualities of Oram, who resumed on 63 and was in danger of being stranded after the ninth wicket fell with his score at 92.

Battling against field-placings designed to concede a single in order to bring the less capable Chris Martin on strike, Oram worked the ball around intelligently, three times weighting shots so that he was able to scramble back for two.

Having reached his century off 166 balls, he then launched a blazing attack on the Australian bowlers, striking Gillespie for a six and a four, and twice hitting local favourite Michael Kasprowicz into the grandstand.