Cricket: Kiwis in struggle against defeat

New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233 and 158-5

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .607-6 dec

NEW ZEALAND were yesterday sliding towards defeat in their three-Test series with Australia and, at 158 for 5 in their second innings in Brisbane, were facing a second successive defeat by an innings.

A late rally by the captain, Ken Rutherford, propped up the New Zealanders, but they still require 216 runs to make the home side bat again. Shane Warne and Craig McDermott took two wickets each to rock the Kiwi boat.

Allan Border closed Australia's first innings at lunch, on 607 for 6, his country's highest Test score against New Zealand. Steve Waugh had moved effortlessly to 147 and Warne had recorded his highest Test score of 74.

New Zealand have named the batsman, Rod Latham, and the medium pace bowlers, Gavin Larsen and Chris Pringle, in their 14-man squad for the triangular one-day series with Australia and South Africa. Matthew Hayden was named in the Australian squad for the first time since the summer.

(Fourth day: New Zealand won toss)

NEW ZEALAND - First Innings 233 (A H Jones 56; C J McDermott 4-39, S K Warne 4-66).

AUSTRALIA - First Innings

(Overnight: 533 for 6)

S R Waugh not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

SK Warne not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Extras (lb13 nb9 b6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Total (for 6 dec, 183 overs) . . . . . . . . . . .607

To bat: T B A May, C J McDermott, G D McGrath.

Bowling: Morrison 33-2-104-0; Cairns 36-7-128-1; Doull 33-5-105-2; De Groen 46-14-120-1; Patel 33-4-125-1; Jones 2-0-6-0.

NEW ZEALAND - Second Innings

B A Pocock c Healy b McDermott . . . . . . . . . . 11

B A Young b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

A H Jones c Border b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

* K R Rutherford not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

M J Greatbatch lbw b McDermott . . . . . . . . . . .2

C L Cairns c Healy b McGrath . . . . . . . . . . . 16

] T E Blain not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Extras (b5 lb7 nb2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Total (for 5, 60 overs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

To bat: D N Patel, D K Morrison, S B Doull, R P De Groen.

Fall: 1-34 2-80 3-81 4-84 5-138.

Bowling (to date): McDermott 17-3-35-2; McGrath 9-0-31-1; Warne 17-6-24-2; M E Waugh 6-1-30-0; May 11-3-26-0.