New Zealand fight back as Australian batting crumbles on day two
New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Australia’s Michael Clarke © AFP
Hobart: Dec 10, 2011
Australia were fighting to avoid their lowest Test score against New Zealand after losing six wickets on the second morning of the second Test at Bellerive Oval on Saturday.
The Australians were making heavy weather in their pursuit of the Kiwis’ first innings of 150 and at lunch were teetering at 81 for seven.
Australia’s lowest total against New Zealand stands at 103 in the second innings of the third Test at Auckland in 1986.
Spearheaded by Chris Martin, the Black Caps’ four seamers all shared in the wickets as Australia struggled on the Bellerive greentop as the Kiwis did on Friday’s opening day after being sent into bat.
At lunch, Australia’s tail was exposed with Peter Siddle on seven and James Pattinson yet to score.
Martin troubled all the Australian batsmen in an unbroken nine-over spell and had three for 28 off 11 overs at lunch.
The procession back to the Australian dressingroom was begun by David Warner up to skipper Michael Clarke’s lack of judgment 20 minutes before lunch.
Warner only lasted 17 minutes into the second day before he edged Martin to Ross Taylor at first slip for 15.
Ricky Ponting walked before he was given out leg before wicket for five after playing Tim Southee across his pads.
It was the fifth time in his last six Test innings that Test cricket’s third-greatest runscorer was out lbw and the 30th Test innings since his last century.
Ponting’s last big knock was 209 against Pakistan almost two years ago in Hobart.
Usman Khawaja’s watchful 51-ball vigil ended when he edged the impressive Martin to wicketkeeper Reece Young for seven in 77 minutes and left Australia 35 for four.
Mike Hussey tried to get his bat out of the way of a Trent Boult lifter only to bottom-edge a catch to Young for eight to send Australia reeling at 58 for five.
Brad Haddin was out to a loose shot hitting straight to Brendan McCullum at mid-off for five and giving Doug Bracewell his first wicket of the innings.
Clarke did not offer a shot and was surprised by Bracewell’s low bounce to be bowled for 22 and leave Australia without a recognised batsman at the seventh wicket down. (AFP)
Brief Scores: New Zealand 150 (Dean Brownlie 56; James Pattinson 5 for 51) lead Australia 81 for 7 (Michael Clarke 22, Peter Siddle 7*; Chris Martin 3 for 28, Doug Bracewell 2 for 9, Tim Southee 1 for 15) by 69 runs.