Cricket: New Zealand struggles on first day

By NICK STANLEY

Herald Online Staff

The New Zealand cricket team was all out in their first innings for 232 on the first day of the third test against Australia in Hamilton today.

The morning and afternoon sessions were dominated by the Australia bowlers, pacemen Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath finishing with the figures of five for 77 and four for 58 respectively.

In the five overs before stumps Shayne O'Connor captured the wicket of Australian opener Matthew Hayden caught behind for 2. Shane Warne (0) and Michael Slater (2) will resume tomorrow with the tourists on four for the loss of one wicket.

Australian captain Steve Waugh won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat. As in previous tests the Black Caps' top-order failed, Australia taking four New Zealand wickets for 73 runs in the session before lunch.

Openers Matthew Horne and Craig Spearman were both out for the same score (12), in the same manner, caught behind by wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, to the same bowler, Glen McGrath.

Matthew Sinclair made his way to 19 before he fell to Brett Lee, caught by Shane Warne at slip. Shortly after Nathan Astle was on his way back to the pavilion without getting off the mark, trapped leg before by Lee.

At that stage New Zealand were 53 for 4, leaving the job of trying to get through to a respectable score to the middle-order.

Top-scorer Craig McMillan combined for a 78-run partnership with captain Stephen Fleming after lunch to take the score through to 131 before Fleming was adjudged lbw for 30 off the bowling of Lee.

McMillan then struck-up a 77-run stand with Chris Cairns to take the score past 200. The Kiwi innings was largely over at 208 when McMillan was caught behind off the bowing of Lee for 79 and Cairns fell four runs later caught on the boundary by Damien Martyn off the bowling of Lee.

The final three wickets were lost for 20 runs, Adam Parore running out of partners to finish not out on 12.

Australia is looking to extend its run of consecutive test wins to 10. They lead the three-match series against New Zealand 2-0.