AUCKLAND (AFP) - Australia shattered a valiant New Zealand start to the third Test yesterday seizing the initiative with three late wickets to have the Black Caps at 199 for five at the close of the first day's play. It was a rapid turnaround of fortune after New Zealand had cautiously made their way to 179 for two as Hamish Marshall and Stephen Fleming amassed a 126-run partnership.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is bowled by Australian paceman Michael Kapsrowicz on the first day of the third Test match at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday. (Photo: AFP)

But they fell within four runs of each other and Lou Vincent came and went for two as Australia took the first-day honours after losing the toss.
The bowling honours were shared across the board, but the damage was prepared by spells of inspired miserly bowling from paceman Glenn McGrath who sent down 24 overs, including 17 maidens, and took one for 20.

With Australia leading 1-0, New Zealand made a shaky start in their bid to draw the series, slipping to 53 for two before Marshall with 76 and Fleming, who returned to run-scoring form with 65, gave the innings some backbone.

Marshall, in only his fifth Test, played with the patience of a veteran, coupling a solid defence with flowing strokes through midwicket and behind point.

He had the added inspiration of sharing a 38-run partnership with his identical twin brother James, who was making his Test debut.
Hamish Marshall's 208-ball innings, which included nine fours, eventually came to an end when he popped a bat-pad catch straight into the hands of Ricky Ponting to give Warne his first wicket.

Fleming relished the opportunity to bat at his customary No 4 position after scoring just 36 runs from four innings as a makeshift opener in the first two Tests.

He came in with the score at 53 for two and received an ironic cheer from the crowd when he survived his first ball from McGrath, who had claimed the New Zealand skipper in his last three innings.

Immediately after lunch, when Ponting curiously kept McGrath out of the attack, Fleming took to Warne hitting him for three fours and a six.
The only trouble he had against the champion leg spinner was three overs before tea when umpire Jeremy Lloyds gave the batsman the benefit of the doubt in a close lbw appeal.

McGrath continued to cause headaches for Fleming and his second six-over spell included five maidens, as Fleming took 50 minutes and 33 balls to move from 32 to 33; however he was to be denied the New Zealand captain's wicket.

That honour when to Michael Kasprowicz when Fleming's concentration finally left him just four runs after Marshall's dismissal, and he chopped the ball onto his stumps.
Australia had snared two early wickets to have New Zealand 67 for two at lunch. New Zealand added an unbeaten 75 runs between lunch and tea, and in the final session Australia took three for 57.

Scoreboard

New Zealand 1st Innings
C Cumming lbw b Gillespie 5
J Marshall c Hayden b McGrath 29
H Marshall c Ponting b Warne 76
S Fleming b Kasprowicz 65
N Astle not out 7
L Vincent b Gillespie 2
B McCullum not out 1
Extras (4b, 8lb, 2nb) 14
TOTAL: (for five wickets) 199
Overs: 62. Batting time: 357 minutes.

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-53, 3-179, 4-183, 5-194.
Still to bat: Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Paul Wiseman, Chris Martin.
Bowling: Glenn McGrath 24-17-20-1, Jason Gillespie 20-7-50-2, Michael Kasprowicz 23-6-57-1 (1nb), Shane Warne 19-4-50-1 (1nb), Ricky Ponting 4-1-10-0.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen, South Africa, and Jeremy Lloyds, England.
TV umpire: Doug Cowie, New Zealand; Match referee: Clive Lloyd, West Indies.
Series: Australia lead 1-0.

Executive Class

Gardens with Gravel

Death to the Mullet!