Cricket: New Zealand suffer again: McDermott prevents tourists exploiting good batting wicket

New Zealand 208-9

v Australia

NEW ZEALAND, struggling for credibility after their worst Test defeat, collapsed in their first innings of the third Test against Australia at Brisbane yesterday. The tourists, who won the toss and opted to bat, lost six wickets between tea and stumps to finish the first day on 208 for 9 at the Gabba.

The fast bowler Craig McDermott inflicted most of the damage, taking four wickets at a cost of only 24 runs in four accurate spells as New Zealand declined from 167 for 3.

After their humiliation by an innings and 222 runs in the second Test, which finished on Monday, the New Zealand captain, Ken Rutherford, must have initially felt his side were responding to his call to restore New Zealand's cricketing reputation. After the early loss of the opener Blair Pocock for a duck, the top order batsmen battled grimly, but after tea, they failed in fine batting conditions.

McDermott, bowling on his home wicket, prompted the collapse when he removed Rutherford for 36 with the aid of a spectacular diving catch by David Boon at short leg. His vice-captain, Mark Greatbatch, fell in McDermott's next over.

Shane Warne, who took nine wickets in the second Test, picked up three more for 66 runs in 28 overs with his leg-spin. In the space of four overs, he accounted for the all-rounder Chris Cairns and Danny Morrison, for his fourth consecutive duck of the series.

(First day: New Zealand won toss)

NEW ZEALAND - First Innings

B A Pocock c Healy b McDermott 0

B A Young c Healy b M Waugh 38

A H Jones b Warne 56

* K R Rutherford c Boon b McDermott 36

M J Greatbatch c Healy b McDermott 35

D N Patel c Boon b May 1

C L Cairns c and b Warne 5

T E Blain not out 20

D K Morrison c Healy b Warne 0

S B Doull c Healy b McDermott 10

R P De Groen not out 1

Extras (b2 nb1 lb3) 6

Total (for 9) 208

Fall: 1-2 2-96 3-98 4-167 5-170 6-174 7-174 8-178 9-193.

Bowling (to date): McDermott 19-10-24-4; McGrath 16- 5-35-0; S R Waugh 3-0-13-0; M E Waugh 10-4-14-1; May 21-7-51-1; Warne 28-12-66-3.

AUSTRALIA: M A Taylor, M J Slater, D C Boon, M E Waugh, * A R Border, S R Waugh, I A Healy, S K Warne, T B A May, C J McDermott, G D McGrath.

Indifferent bowling by the Sri Lankan Board President's XI enabled West Indies to reach 93 for 1 on a restricted first day's play in their three-day match in Galle today. Carl Hooper hammered 53 from 75 balls with two sixes and five fours, profiting from being dropped at 30. Play did not start until after tea because of rain.