Cricket: Rain NZ’s best friend in battle to save test

A rain dance instead of net practice looks the best chance of a shattered New Zealand batting lineup saving the second cricket test against Australia here tomorrow.


New Zealand's middle order crumbled to the tune of five for 46 in 14 overs today as Australia's bowling juggernaut rolled on to dismiss the hosts for 244 in 81.1 overs on an abbreviated fourth day.


It means Stephen Fleming - sitting on a pair - and Craig Cumming will stride out to face the follow on tomorrow at 10am still 326 behind Australia's first innings of 570, and with 98 overs to bat out a draw.


If New Zealand can't do that, they are staring at their eighth consecutive test loss, barring the wins on the tour of minnows Bangladesh in October.


Rain arrived soon after 4pm today to spare the New Zealand top order any more pain, and with the forecast tomorrow for more thick cloud and southerly drizzle, it could mean a lucky escape to head to Auckland just 0-1 down in the three-test series.


Just 42 overs were possible today as the scotch mist rolled down Adelaide Road, but it was plenty of time for New Zealand to go belly-up on an excellent batting surface through some average shot selection and intense pressure from the world's best bowling attack.


Michael Kasprowicz led the way with three for 62 to move to 99 test wickets while legspinner Shane Warne bagged three more to give him 10 wickets across the first three New Zealand batting innings of the series.


Only Lou Vincent and Daniel Vettori emerged with credit today, Vincent sealing his place for the three remaining home tests with 63 in 199 minutes and Vettori again defying the tourists with 45 off 63 balls at the end.


But there were more loose shots from Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum to Warne into the footmarks.


McMillan - on borrowed time in the test side - again slogged out after moving comfortably to 20 with a huge six off Warne into the R A Vance Stand.


Vincent, whose polished 164-ball knock was ended when he was nicked out by Michael Kasprowicz to a ball he should have left alone, showed a fair degree of dark humour when asked what the team's plans were.


"We're going to go out tonight and do some dancing - rain dancing. Hopefully it's still raining tomorrow," he said.


"We're up against a pretty awesome attack and you've just got to soak up the pressure.


"They come at you hard and try to work out little weaknesses in your game."


Vincent and night watchman James Franklin resumed at 122 for four in the gloom and showed there were few terrors in the pitch with a stand of 58 in 86 minutes.


But Kasprowicz began reverse swinging the ball and made the double breakthrough to caught behind decisions -- Franklin's 26 was his highest test score.


Vincent had been disciplined outside off stump and was strong on the pull shot, hitting six fours.


He said it was even tougher with the new Basin Reserve sight screens, which were too low and the bowlers' arms extended above them.


"At the far end a few balls got lost at the top there but you've just got to guts it out.


"It's a bit like club cricket - I was just drawing back to that experience, watching the ball out of the trees.


"We've tried to be positive, keep playing our natural games, hence a couple of shots we probably got out to.


"The same applies tomorrow. I think you can bat yourself into a hole if you block around and not try to play your natural game."


New Zealand were 212 for nine when Vettori launched his attack, eight fours in his 45 off 63 balls as Chris Martin hung around for nought not out in 33 minutes off 16 balls.


Kasprowicz said tomorrow was a lottery but he backed the Australian bowling unit to do the job, weather permitting.


"It's a bit of guesswork the weather round here. I think we back ourselves to make some early impact and then keep doing our things.


"We certainly don't take anything for granted with the New Zealand side and the wicket's playing exceptionally well and very flat."


- NZPA