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Oram hits century as Australia toil against Kiwis

New Zealand 353 Australia 197-4

Saturday 20 November 2004 01:00 GMT
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An unbeaten half-century from Damien Martyn helped Australia end the second day of the first Test in a respectable position after Jacob Oram looked to have given New Zealand the upper hand with a superb century.

An unbeaten half-century from Damien Martyn helped Australia end the second day of the first Test in a respectable position after Jacob Oram looked to have given New Zealand the upper hand with a superb century.

Oram reached 126 not out before finally running out of partners as the Black Caps were bowled out for 353 in Brisbane.

But the hosts made a steady response with captain Ricky Ponting helping himself to a half-century and Martyn doing likewise to end the day unbeaten on 59, with Australia 197 for four.

Resuming on 250 for seven, Daniel Vettori and Oram started the day positively, but the former became Michael Kasprowicz's fourth victim when he attempted a drive and saw the ball take the edge of his bat.

He was caught by Shane Warne jumping in the air at first slip for 21.

Kyle Mills came to the crease and settled himself before hooking Glenn McGrath for four to get off the mark.

He and Oram exchanged the strike to great effect, gradually accumulating runs and frustrating the Australian bowlers.

Mills (29) struck Warne for the first six of the innings, but eventually departed to the leg spinner when Hayden caught a sharp chance at first slip.

This brought the last man, Chris Martin, to the wicket and Oram, on 92, decided to speed up his scoring rate.

Oram sensibly manipulated the Australian field and reached his hundred in ones and twos as he dominated the strike from both ends.

Having passed his own personal milestone, he decided to take a few risks and the very next ball, from Jason Gillespie, he lofted into the stands for six.

He followed this up in the next over by smashing successive sixes off Australia's best bowler of the innings, Kasprowicz, scoring 24 runs off the next seven balls he faced.

Martin held firm at the other end but was caught to end the Kiwi innings when the ball popped up to Ponting at silly point as a Warne leg break took the shoulder of his bat.

Australia began their reply well and had reached 84 for one at tea.

Matthew Hayden (eight) was the only Australian wicket to fall in the middle session as he shuffled across his stumps and was deceived by a quicker ball from Mills.

Aleem Dar gave the opener out leg before wicket to hand Mills his first Test wicket - even though replays showed the ball might have gone over the top of the stumps.

Justin Langer and Ponting steadied the ship for Australia, making up for the early loss with some responsible cricket.

However, Langer fell shortly after the tea interval for 34.

A delivery from Vettori hit his back leg after he moved across the wicket - and completely missed the ball.

Ponting was then well caught for 51 by a diving Nathan Astle at midwicket off the bowling of Martin and Darren Lehmann got a fine edge to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum after adding eight.

With the tourists smelling blood, having reduced the Australians to 128 for four, Michael Clarke joined Martyn at the crease and scored 31 not out before bad light forced a slightly premature end to the day's play.

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