Cricket: McMillan the key to victory

By RICHARD BOOCK

Craig McMillan salvaged not only his international future yesterday but also New Zealand's chances of scoring an unlikely win in the first cricket test against Australia.

On a day in which spin bowlers Daniel Vettori and Shane Warne hogged most of the limelight, McMillan reinforced his value to the New Zealand side with a rollicking and unbeaten 57 to leave the hosts with just a sniff of a win with two days remaining.

Chasing 281 to win after eventually bowling the tourists out for 229, New Zealand went to stumps at 151 for five last night, requiring another 130 runs to reach the target, with the main responsibilities lying with the rejuvenated McMillan, and his overnight partner, Chris Cairns.

Initially in disarray at 43 for four, the hosts looked likely to fold inside the day until McMillan managed to repair the innings in tandem with Nathan Astle, the pair adding 78 precious runs for the fifth wicket.

Despite a career-threatening loss of form and the prospect of facing the world's best spin bowler on a sharply turning Eden Park pitch, McMillan went on to the attack as soon as he arrived at the crease yesterday, taking advantage of any loose deliveries and at times riding his luck against the formidable Australian attack.

The 23-year-old right-hander was in danger of losing his test spot to the likes of Chris Harris, Gary Stead or Roger Twose if he had missed out again yesterday, but looked more likely as he went for his shots, thumping his eighth test 50 at a run-a-ball, including seven fours and a couple of sixes.

So cleanly did he dispatch the loose ball, that Warne - who needed just one more wicket to equal Dennis Lillee's Australian record of 355 - was initially hit out of the attack, although he returned soon after at the other end, and proved far more dangerous bowling into the breeze.

He struck in the second over of his second spell, bowling Astle with a wickedly turning legspinner in the 36th over, but will be anxious to make more use of the conditions when the fourth day's play starts this morning.

While everything indicated Warne might have a field day yesterday, it was in fact Colin "Funky" Miller, the born-again offspinner from Tasmania who caused New Zealand's biggest problems.

The 36-year-old finger-spinner had opening batsman Matt Horne caught at bat-pad in the eighth over, trapped Mathew Sinclair in front in the 12th, and then removed key New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming for the second time in this test, having him caught at the wicket by Adam Gilchrist.

Gilchrist had earlier starred for Australia with the bat, striking a valuable 59 as he and Damien Martyn carried their side's overnight total of 114 for five through to 174 - before Vettori put an end to the partnership with his 100th test wicket.

The 21-year-old left-arm spinner bowled Martyn to bring up the milestone and later had Gilchrist caught at mid-wicket as he cut through the Australian line-up to end with career-best figures of seven for 87 and match figures of 12 for 149.

Gilchrist said afterwards that he thought the game was in the balance, but believed Australia perhaps still had their nose in front, despite some strong individual performances from New Zealand.

"It's very even," he said. "But I think it's just in our favour. On a wicket like this, runs on the board mean a lot and perhaps there will be more pressure on New Zealand tomorrow than us.

"I thought McMillan's innings was very courageous, given he's been dropped from the one-day side and missed out in the first innings here, and Daniel Vettori was most impressive as well - he's very mature and level-headed for a guy who's so young, and has achieved so much."