Cricket: Greatbatch struggles for answers as NZ collapses

New Zealand's last recognised batsmen, Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, face an epic rescue act tomorrow with their side sliding towards a heavy second cricket test defeat against Australia at Hamilton.

Mark Greatbatch.
Mark Greatbatch.
Chasing a mammoth 479 to win, New Zealand limped to stumps on the fourth day on 185 for five after a now-familiar collapse on a still-friendly Seddon Park pitch today.

Wellington centurymaker McCullum, 19 not out, and Guptill, 29 not out, have to survive another 94 overs tomorrow with next man Jeetan Patel ushering in a long New Zealand tail.

"Obviously we're being outplayed by a better side. We've stayed with them for 2½ days and suddenly they've put the gas on and we haven't been able to stay with them. We've got things to work on technically, and mentally as well," coach Mark Greatbatch said.

A small consolation was they avoided New Zealand's heaviest defeat to Australia, in terms of runs, which was 297 in Auckland in 1973-74.

But a first trans-Tasman test win since 1993 remained a forlorn hope.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting finally declared at lunch on 511 for eight, leaving New Zealand a minimum 153 overs to reach their lofty target.

All the batsmen got starts but annoyingly perished between 18 and 30 as left-arm speedster Mitchell Johnson caused big headaches while cohorts Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris were seen off.

Johnson became the fastest left-armer to reach 150 wickets, in 34 tests, when he cut through Tim McIntosh, on 19, with a 150kmh thunderbolt.

He removed BJ Watling, at 24, to a loose drive then claimed the big scalp of Ross Taylor who pushed at a wide one on 22 and gave Brad Haddin his second catch.

"You can't take away from Johnson's spell. He's a world class bowler and he went up a few notches. He was hard to play but in test cricket you've got to do that," Greatbatch said.

Recalled No 3 Mathew Sinclair looked composed in his 29 in 103 minutes, but also departed softly when left-arm tweaker Michael Clarke trapped him lbw to a straight delivery.

Captain Daniel Vettori hit a brisk 22 before an ambitious sweep of spinner Nathan Hauritz saw him trapped in front.

He challenged Asad Rauf's decision, which television replays took an age to confirm, before a weary Vettori trudged off.

Australia eyed a quick kill tomorrow for a 2-0 series win and were confident of finishing the job, said an understated Johnson.

"We're in a pretty good position but New Zealand have got plenty of fight in them, they've still got two pretty good batsmen in.

"I think we're just a fraction in front at the moment. If we get an early wicket in the morning then we can get through their tail."

New Zealand arrived today with hopes of some quick wickets and a run chase of around 350, instead they chased leather for 2½ hours as the tourists plundered 178 off 39 overs.

Resuming on 333 for four, a lead of 300, Marcus North and Clarke added 142 for the fifth wicket to bat New Zealand out of the game.

New Zealand's best bowler, Brent Arnel, broke the partnership when he trapped Clarke lbw for 63.

The tall Northern Districts seamer took three for 77 off 26 overs on an unresponsive pitch and ended a solid debut series as one of few in the home side to earn a pass mark.

Vettori went wicketless for his first 40 overs then took two in successive balls; North caught behind down the leg side for 90 and Johnson caught at long-on before Hauritz survived the hat-trick ball.

North hit 70 of his 90 runs in boundaries, before Haddin, 48 off 40, and Hauritz, 41 not out off 62, compounded New Zealand's misery.

The spinners got the treatment, with Vettori ending with two for 140 off 48 and Jeetan Patel one for 141 off 39 including 12 overs for 79 today.

 

 

 

 

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