March, 23 2005	Wednesday	12 Safar 1426

WELLINGTON, March 22: Australia retained the Trans-Tasman trophy when the second Test against New Zealand ended in a draw at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday.

Play was abandoned shortly before the scheduled tea break on the fifth and final day because of persistent rain and thick fog that had plagued the match from the outset.

The foul weather almost certainly saved New Zealand from another heavy defeat following their nine-wicket reverse in the series opener in Christchurch.

Stephen Fleming’s side had been forced to follow-on and were reeling at 48 for three, needing another 278 runs to avoid an innings defeat, when the storms rolled in and caused the players to scurry from the field.

“It got us out of jail so we’re not disappointed with the weather,” New Zealand captain Fleming told reporters.

“But we’ve clearly got a lot of work to do. We’re being put under a lot of pressure and we’re not responding.”

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said the weather had robbed his team of victory.

“It’s a disappointing way for the Test match to end,” Ponting said.

New Zealand were bowled out for 244 in their first innings on the fourth day, 326 behind Australia’s massive 570 for eight declared that featured centuries from Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist, who was named Man-of-the-Match for the second Test in a row.

Rain prevented the Kiwis starting their second innings on Monday afternoon and further showers on Tuesday morning delayed the start of play by 90 minutes.

The previous days had also been affected by rain, with the entire first day washed out.

After play finally began on Tuesday, Australia threatened to run through New Zealand’s batting before the rain returned once again.

Glenn McGrath captured two wickets in three balls in the third over and then fellow paceman Michael Kasprowicz claimed his 100th Test wicket.

McGrath trapped Fleming leg before wicket for one before dismissing Hamish Marshall in identical fashion for a duck in the same over.

New Zealand limped to lunch on 37 for two and lost Lou Vincent in the first over after the resumption when he dragged Kasprowicz on for 24.

As Australia moved in for the kill, the heavens opened and play was eventually called off, leaving opener Craig Cumming 10 not out and Nathan Astle unbeaten on four.

The third and final Test in the series at Auckland’s Eden Park starts on Saturday.

 

Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 570-8 declared (D.R. Martyn 165, A.C. Gilchrist 162, M.L. Hayden 61, S.K. Warne 50 not out; J.E.C. Franklin 4-128).
NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 244 (L. Vincent 63).
NEW ZEALAND (2nd Innings, overnight 0-0):
C.D. Cumming not out	10
S.P. Fleming lbw b McGrath	1
H.J.H. Marshall lbw b McGrath	0
L. Vincent b Kasprowicz	24
N.J. Astle not out	4
EXTRAS (B-3, LB-5, NB-1)	9
TOTAL (for three wkts, 17.2 overs)	48
FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-3, 3-37.
BOWLING: McGrath 6-3-10-2; Gillespie 5-2-5-0; Warne 3.2-0-14-0; Kasprowicz 3-0-11-1 (1nb).
UMPIRES: R.E. Koertzen (South Africa) and D.R. Shepherd (England).
TV UMPIRE: E.A. Watkin (New Zealand).
MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Adam Gilchrist.
THIRD TEST: Auckland, March 26-30.

—Reuters

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