Cricket: Australia beat NZ by nine wickets

Australia cruised to their sixth consecutive test victory, beating New Zealand by nine wickets with more than a day to spare in the first cricket test at Jade Stadium in Christchurch today.

Chasing 133 to win, the tourists got there in the 32nd over late on the fourth day with Justin Langer unbeaten on 72 and captain Ricky Ponting on 47.

The only wicket to fall was that of Matthew Hayden, leg before wicket to spinner Daniel Vettori for 15.

Legspinner Shane Warne led the demolition of New Zealand's second innings after they resumed on nine without loss today, taking five for 39 as they were dismissed for 131 in 50 overs.

It was Warne's 29th five-wicket bag in his 121-test career, and moved him to 573 test wickets.

Paceman Jason Gillespie took three for 38 as New Zealand received a world record-equalling seven leg before wicket decisions in their innings, level with Zimbabwe's seven against England in Durham in 2003.

Brendon McCullum was the New Zealand topscorer with 24.

The second test starts in Wellington on Friday.


SCOREBOARD

New Zealand


First innings 433
Second innings (9-0 overnight)
C Cumming lbw b Gillespie 7
S Fleming lbw b McGrath 17
H Marshall b Warne 22
L Vincent lbw b Gillespie 4
N Astle b Kasprowicz 21
C McMillan c Katich b Warne 5
B McCullum lbw b Gillespie 24
D Vettori lbw b Warne 23
J Franklin not out 5
I O'Brien lbw b Warne 0
C Martin lbw b Warne 0
Extras (1b, 1lb, 1nb) 3


Total (50 overs) 131


Fall: 20 (Fleming), 30 (Cumming), 34 (Vincent), 71 (Astle), 78 (McMillan), 87 (Marshall), 121 (McCullum), 127 (Vettori), 131 (O'Brien), 131 (Martin).


Bowling: G McGrath 14-7-19-1, J Gillespie 12-2-38-3, M Kasprowicz 10-3-33-1 (1nb), S Warne 14-3-39-5.


Australia


First innings 432
Second innings
J Langer not out 72
M Hayden c Cumming b Vettori 15
R Ponting not out 47
Extras (1nb) 1
Total (for 1 wkt, 31.3 overs) 135
Fall: 25 (Hayden).


Bowling: C Martin 8-0-27-0, J Franklin 5-1-26-1 (1nb), D Vettori 13.3-0-55-1, I O'Brien 5-0-27-0.


Result: Australia won by nine wickets, lead three-match series 1-0.