WELLINGTON: New Zealand face an uphill battle to avoid defeat in the first Test against Australia at the Basin Reserve here on Saturday.
The Black Caps reached 4 for 108 in their first innings at stumps on day two, trailing Australia by 351 runs.
Captain Daniel Vettori was not on 42 and Martin Guptill was on 19 at the close of play, the pair providing the only highlight of the home side’s knock so far with an unbeaten 65-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Australia had declared its first innings at 5 for 459 during the second session with centuries to Michael Clarke (168) and Marcus North (112 not out) doing much to put the tourists in a dominant position with three days remaining in the Test.
The Black Caps’ reply started in disastrous fashion when they lost two quick wickets prior to the tea break.
Opener BJ Watling was trapped LBW by Doug Bollinger for a duck before some brilliant footwork from Mitchell Johnson ran out Peter Ingram for 5 late in the session.
The Black Caps made it to tea on 2 for 20 but they slipped to 4 for 43 during the final session when McIntosh was out for 9 and Ross Taylor departed for 21.
McIntosh became Ryan Harris’ maiden Test scalp before Taylor’s dismissal brought Guptill and Vettori together and the duo guided the Black Caps through to stumps.
Earlier, North reached his fourth Test century shortly before Australia closed its first innings.
North made 112 not out, having earlier enjoyed a role in a record partnership for the fifth wicket worth 253 runs alongside fellow centurion Clarke.
Clarke and North had resumed Australia’s innings on day two on 4 for 316 and they continued to frustrate the Black Caps to remain unbeaten through to lunch, which the tourists reached on 4 for 405.
Clarke was removed early in the second session when stumped by Brendon McCullum from the bowling of Vettori. North and Brad Haddin (11)added 30 runs before Australia captain Ricky Ponting chose to close the innings.
Score board
Australia won toss
Australia 1st innings
P J Hughes c Taylor b Arnel 20
S M Katich lbw b Arnel 79
*R T Ponting run out (Watling) 41
M E K Hussey c Watling b Martin 4
M J Clarke st McCullum b Vettori 168
M J North not out 112
†B J Haddin not out 11
Extras (b2, lb15, w2, nb5) 24
Total (5 wickets dec, 131 overs) 459
Did not bat: M G Johnson, N M Hauritz, D E Bollinger, R J Harris
Fall: 1-25, 2-104, 3-115, 4-176, 5-429
Bowling: Martin 30-3-115-1 (3nb); Southee 19-4-68-0 (1nb); Arnel 26-4-89-2 (1w); Tuffey 22-7-49-0 (1w); Vettori 33-5-111-1 (1nb); Guptill 1-0-10-0
New Zealand 1st innings
T G McIntosh c Hussey b Harris 9
B J Watling lbw b Bollinger 0
P J Ingram run out (Johnson) 5
L R P L Taylor c North b Bollinger 21
M J Guptill not out 19
*D L Vettori not out 42
Extras (lb3, w2, nb7) 12
Total (4 wickets, 47 overs) 108
To bat: †B B McCullum, D R Tuffey, T G Southee, B J Arnel, C S Martin
Fall: 1-3, 2-14, 3-31, 4-43
Bowling: Bollinger 10-4-21-2 (1w); Harris 11-4-23-1 (1nb, 1w); Johnson 8-4-16-0; Hauritz 14-4-39-0 (6nb); North 4-1-6-0
Test debuts: Ryan Harris (Australia); Brent Arnel (New Zealand)
Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and I J Gould (England). TV umpire: Aleem Dar (Pakistan). Match referee: J Srinath (India)
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=230270
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