Cricket: Warne in form

New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .233 and 278

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

Australia win by an innings and 96 runs

SHANE WARNE took four wickets as Australia cruised to victory by an innings and 96 runs, dismissing New Zealand for 278 in their second innings in the third Test at Brisbane yesterday.

Despite taking 18 wickets to help secure the three-Test series 2-0, Warne will miss a limited overs tournament starting in Melbourne tommorrow. Allan Border wants to rest him for the Test series against South Africa starting on Boxing Day.

(Fifth 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 607 for 6 dec (S R Waugh 147no, A R Border 105; S B Doull 2-105).

NEW ZEALAND - Second Innings

(Overnight: 158 for 5)

K R Rutherford c Warne b McGrath . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

T E Blain b McGrath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

D N Patel b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

D K Morrison not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

S B Doull c Taylor b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

R P De Groen b May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Extras (b7 lb12 nb5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .278

Fall (cont): 6-187 7-218 8-230 9-265.

Bowling: McDermott 25-4-63-2; McGrath 21-1- 66-3; May 16-3-41-1; Warne 35-11-59-4; M Waugh 6-1-30-0.