Cricket: Oram reaches century, NZ all out for 353

4.00pm

UPDATE - Allrounder Jacob Oram defied negative Australian field placements to slam a deserved second test century as New Zealand fought an admirable rearguard action on day two of the first cricket test at the Gabba here today.

In danger of being stranded in the 90s when Kyle Mills was dismissed for 29, Oram coolly nudged the eight runs required as Ricky Ponting ringed the boundaries in a bid to entice the big hitter to hole out.

Oram nudged Jason Gillespie for two to reach his milestone and immediately switched into overdrive by hoisting the South Australian's next ball for six over mid-wicket.

A four through the covers followed then Oram, with the pressure off, bludgeoned consecutive sixes off Michael Kasprowicz to race past his previous best of 119 -- made against South Africa earlier this year.

Oram and tailender Chris Martin survived to lunch, adding 35 for the 10th wicket as New Zealand ended the first session on a meritorious 352 for nine.

Shortly after lunch New Zealand were all out for 353 when Martin was out for a duck. Oram was not out 126.

Daniel Vettori, who scored 21, and Mills, who was a batting revelation at No 10, were the wickets to fall as New Zealand piled on 102 in the session.

Resuming at 250 for seven, Vettori was the first wicket to fall, caught at slip by Shane Warne to give Kasprowicz his fourth scalp.

Vettori added eight to his overnight score of 13, his departure ending a 58-run partnership for the eight wicket with Oram.

Their stand erased New Zealand's previous best for the eighth wicket at the Gabba, 53 made by Bruce Edgar and Richard Hadlee in 1980.

Mills was only selected after James Franklin suffered a groin strain and although bowling is his main brief he displayed a degree of composure and determination sadly lacking in some of his top order teammates yesterday.

The Aucklander was solid on defence and also showed scant regard for Warne, as he brought up the New Zealand 300 with a sublime straight drive for six.

Warne exacted a measure of revenge when Mills edged to Matthew Hayden at slip with the score on 317 after he helped add 53 for the ninth wicket.

The world's leading wicket taker had three for 96 off 29 at lunch while Kasprowicz remained the Australian's spearhead with four for 90 off 28.

Scoreboard at lunch:

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 19

C McMillan c Gilchrist b Warne 23

J Oram not out 125

B McCullum st Gilchrist b Warne 10

D Vettori c Warne b Kasprowicz 21

K Mills c Hayden b Warne 29

C Martin not out 0

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

Total (for 9 wkts, 117 overs) 352


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


Bowling: G McGrath 27-4-67-0 (2nb), J Gillespie 29-7-84-1, M Kasprowicz 28-5-90-4 (2nb), S Warne 29-3-96-3 (3w), D Lehmann 4-0-12-0.


- NZPA