BRISBANE, Nov 21: A rock-solid Simon Katich prevented a complete Australian batting collapse in their second innings against New Zealand as 16 wickets tumbled on an eventful second day of the first Test at the Gabba here on Friday.
Australia closed the day with a lead of 189 after reaching 131 for six in their second innings with Katich unbeaten firmly on 67 as wickets fell at the other end.
Matthew Hayden continued his form poor when he edged the first ball of the second innings to Brendon McCullum behind the stumps off Chris Martin.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting fell to an injudicious pull after making 17 to provide Iain O’Brien first of two wickets. Michael Hussey was unlucky to be adjudged caught behind by South African umpire Rudi Koertzen. TV replays indicated the ball had only brushed the batsman’s thigh.
Michael Clarke, Australia’s saviour in the first innings with 98, was brilliant run out for nine by a direct hit from Aaron Redmond.
Katich and Andrew Symonds revived the innings in a stand of 56 before Symonds (20) edged behind trying to hook Martin. When Shane Watson was lbw to Martin late in the day, it completed a great session for the New Zealand bowlers.
Earlier, Mitchell Johnson led Australia’s fast men back into form as they bundled New Zealand out in their first innings for 156. However, the home bowlers will have to retain that spark on Saturday after New Zealand’s seamers were equally dangerous in Australia’s second innings.
Johnson picked up four wickets, including three in six deliveries as he bowled three successive maidens in his second spell, to become the chief wicket-taker with a career-best 4-30 as New Zealand batting capitulated after resuming at their overnight score of seven for no wicket.
Barring Ross Taylor (40), Jesse Ryder (30) and a resolute Daniel Flynn, who was left stranded on 39, no other batsman managed to stay long enough to give New Zealand the lead.
Flynn justified in playing a watchful innings after he came to the crease at 73 for four when his top-order colleagues had failed to capitalise on their starts. But he was left high and dry as the last four wickets fell for 13 with none of the bottom five batsmen reaching double-figures.
It was Stuart Clark who wrapped up the innings, which was fitting after he started the job when he picked up Redmond with the first ball of the day.
Brett Lee, who now has 299 Test wickets, Clark and Watson, took two wickets each.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 214 (M.J. Clarke 98; T.G. Southee 4-63).
NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings, overnight
7-0):
A.J. Redmond c Ponting b Clark 3
J.M. How b Lee 14
J.D. Ryder c Haddin b Watson 30
L.R.P.L. Taylor lbw b Lee 40
B.B. McCullum c Ponting b Johnson 8
D.R. Flynn not out 39
G.D. Elliott b Watson 9
D.L. Vettori c Symonds b Johnson 2
T.G. Southee c Symonds b Johnson 0
I.E. O’Brien c Clarke b Johnson 1
C.S. Martin b Clark 1
EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-6) 9
TOTAL (all out, 50 overs) 156
FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-44, 3-64, 4-73, 5-108, 6-127, 7-143, 8-143, 9-149.
BOWLING: Lee 16-5-38-2 (3nb); Clark 15-2-46-2 (3nb); Watson 10-2-35-2; Johnson 8-3-30-4; Symonds 1-0-4-0.
AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings):
M.L. Hayden c McCullum b Martin 0
S.M. Katich not out 67
R.T. Ponting c Redmond b O’Brien 17
M.E.K. Hussey c McCullum b O’Brien 0
M.J. Clarke run out 9
A. Symonds c McCullum b Martin 20
S.R. Watson lbw b Martin 5
B.J. Haddin not out 5
EXTRAS (LB-6, NB-1) 7
TOTAL (for six wkts, 38 overs) 131
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-40, 3-40, 4-53, 5-109, 6-115.
BOWLING (to-date): Martin 13-2-52-3; Southee 10-4-31-0; O’Brien 7-1-23-2 (1nb); Elliott 3-0-7-0; Vettori 4-1-6-0; Ryder 1-0-6-0.—Agencies