Simulated Tests - Report of Test #1491 New Zealand vs Australia by Ben Carbonaro

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AUSTRALIA WINS SECOND STRAIGHT TEST OF SERIES
By Ben Carbonaro, Wellington

In the second test of the series played between New Zealand and Australia, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat on a nice pitch for batting with a few cracks here and there. The first wicket to fall was that of opener Matthew Horne with score on 5. The next man to go was Matthew Sinclair caught by Adam Gilchrist off the bowling of Brett Lee with the score on 12. The wickets kept falling until Craig McMillan (67) and and Chris Cairns (41) added a 108 run partnership to help steer New Zealand back on track. Then disaster struck when the next two batsmen (Adam Parore and Daniel Vettori) went for ducks. Another partnership developed with tail-enders Simon Doull (24*) and Shane O'Connor (27) putting on a tenth-wicket partnership of 51. New Zealand finished their first innings with 9/198 off 73.3 overs. Brett Lee was the pick of the bowlers for Australia with figures of 18-8-45-6.

Australia started their first innings well, adding 37 before the wicket of Michael Slater (11) fell with the score on 37. Colin Miller was put up the order from number ten to bat at number three and made 46 whilst adding a 127 run partnership with Greg Blewett (81). Langer went cheaply making only 6. Mark Waugh was the next the next to go making 13 with the score on 182. Steve Waugh (44) and Damien Martyn (15) put on a partnership of 59 to help put Australia back on track. The next wicket to go was Adam Gilchrist (20). with the score on 270. Shane Warne (19) and Brett Lee (11) then proceeded to put on a valuable lower-order partnership of 30. Brett Lee was the last wicket wicket to fall. Glenn McGrath remained on 6 not out as Australia closed their first innings with 9/291 off 100.4 overs. Chris Cairns was the best of the New Zealand bowlers with 5/82 from 32.4 overs.

New Zealand began their second innings poorly in much the same fashion as the first. Matthew Horne was the first to go making just 3 with the score on 4. Craig Spearman (19) and Matthew Sinclair (61) put on a partnership of 80. Stephen Fleming (14) and Nathan Astle (11) made the going the tough for New Zealand with the score on 94 and 111 when both batsmen were out. Once again, Craig McMilland (94) had the role of rescuing the innings for New Zealand. The next three wickets also fell cheaply with Chris Cairns (0), Adam Parore (9) and Daniel Vettori (5). With much similarity from New Zealand's first innings, Simon Doull (25) and Shane O'Connor (35*)put on a tenth wicket partnership of 60. New Zealand, in their second innings, made 291 all out from 111.5 overs. Glenn McGrath was the best of the Australian bowlers with 4/69 from 29 overs.

Australia's second innings started off perfectly with openers Michael Slater (80) and Greg Blewett (41) added 101 for the first wicket (Blewett) before the first wicket fell. Mark Waugh didn't stick around for long making just 2. However, Justin Langer (27) and Australian captain Steve Waugh (13) put on a valuable rescuing partnership of 40. The wicket tumbled until Adam Gilchrist provided some resistance with 21 not out. The next two Australian wickets Warne (1), Lee (0) fell quickly. Colin Miller remained on 7 not out as Steve Waugh declared with Australia closing the innings making 8/205 from 71.1 overs. Chris Cairns with match figures of 10/142 (5/60 in Australia's second innings) was the best of the New Zealand bowlers. Australia won by just 2 wickets.

The man of the match was Chris Cairns with match bowling figures of 10/142. It was hard to decide whether to award it to Craig McMillan (67 and 94) or Cairns and in the end it was Cairns who bowled outstandingly right through the test. The next test is in Hamilton (March 31- April 4). With Australia now 2-0 in the series, it looks like Australia will go away with the series 3-0. But, as always like test matches do, always produce drama and interesting results.