Cricket: Cricketers stumble to loss in second Brisbane game

By RICHARD BOOCK

New Zealand's bright start to the new international cricket season has lasted all of 24 hours.

Not only were the New Zealanders brought down to earth by a hard-working Queensland selection yesterday, but they also now have to contend with a gaping hole at the top of the batting order following the injury to Chris Nevin.

Chasing Queensland's 191 for nine on a fourth-day pitch in Brisbane, New Zealand were bowled out for 168 in the 45th over and, just as significantly, appeared no closer to finding an adequate makeshift opener.

Daniel Vettori, who opened in Nathan Astle's absence on Monday and made four, was out to the second legitimate ball of the match yesterday, while his experimental partner, Scott Styris, went cheaply as well.

Fresh from their thumping 127-run win over Queensland on Monday, New Zealand looked to be heading towards a similarly emphatic result when they made early inroads into the hosts' batting, reducing them to 66 for five and 117 for seven.

However, Queensland ground every available run out of their 50 overs, with Lee Carseldine (42), James Hopes (37) and Brendan Creevey (36) dragging their total through to the verge of respectability.

New Zealand found the going just as tough during the chase, with Chris Cairns, Stephen Fleming and Parore failing to make a substantial contribution, and it was only some belated defiance from Craig McMillan (39), Paul Wiseman (38), and Shane O'Connor (25) that limited the margin to 23 runs.

"It got quite difficult to score as the match went on," Fleming said afterwards. "The pitch had been used for four days in a row and it became variable towards the end so that played a role in our performance. The death-bowling at the end was a little untidy and probably allowed them 30 more runs than they should have got."

Roger Twose spent the day at the team hotel nursing a back strain, which he apparently suffered yesterday while filling in for Nevin behind the stumps. Fleming said the injury was not a serious one but would take a couple of days to fully mend.

New Zealand will train in Brisbane today before flying to Singapore tomorrow for Sunday's opening one-day international against Pakistan.