Cricket: First test evenly poised

Hamish Marshall on his way to a score of 146. Picture / Fotopress

Australia were 141 for three in reply to New Zealand's first innings of 433 as the first cricket test hung in the balance at stumps on the second day.


Australian captain Ricky Ponting was unbeaten on 41 with nightwatchman Jason Gillespie yet to score, after Damien Martyn was dismissed leg before for 32 by spinner Daniel Vettori in the day's penultimate over.


Justin Langer was first to go, bowled by James Franklin for 23, then opening partner Matthew Hayden was caught at second slip for 35 to give debutante Iain O'Brien his first test wicket.


Earlier, Glenn McGrath took his 26th five-wicket bag as New Zealand lost their last five wickets for 45.


McGrath ended with figures of six for 115 off 42 overs after taking six for 40 off his last 10.


Hamish Marshall topscored for New Zealand in just his third test innings, scoring 146.


Scoreboard:


New Zealand
First innings (265-3 overnight)
C Cumming c Gillespie b Kasprowicz 74
S Fleming lbw b Warne 18
H Marshall b Warne 146
L Vincent lbw b Clarke 27
N Astle lbw b McGrath 74
C McMillan c Gilchrist b McGrath 13
B McCullum c Langer b McGrath 29
D Vettori not out 24
J Franklin lbw b McGrath 0
I O'Brien c Gilchrist b McGrath 5
C Martin c Gilchrist b McGrath 1
Extras (4b, 14lb, 2nb, 2w) 22
Total (141 overs) 433


Fall: 56 (Fleming), 153 (Cumming), 199 (Vincent), 330 (Marshall), 355 (McMillan), 388 (Astle), 403 (McCullum), 403 (Franklin), 415 (O'Brien), 433 (Martin).


Bowling: G McGrath 42-9-115-6, J Gillespie 29-5-87-0 (2w), M Kasprowicz 25-6-85-1 (2nb), S Warne 40-6-112-2, M Clarke 5-0-16-1.


Australia
First innings
J Langer b Franklin 23
M Hayden c Astle b O'Brien 35
R Ponting not out 41
D Martyn lbw b Vettori 32
J Gillespie not out 0
Extras (6lb, 4nb) 10
Total (for 3 wkts, 41 overs) 141


Fall: 48 (Langer), 75 (Hayden), 140 (Martyn).


Bowling: C Martin 14-2-58-0 (1nb), J Franklin 10-3-22-1 (2nb), I O'Brien 6-1-32-1 (1nb), D Vettori 11-4-23-1.


- NZPA