Vettori steadies Kiwis after early setbacks
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2011, Friday
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DANIEL Vettori dragged New Zealand back into the first test with a disciplined, unbeaten 45 after the top order collapsed yesterday trying to bully one of the least experienced Australian attacks in decades on the opening day of the series.
Mitchell Starc took his second wicket in test cricket in the over after lunch to remove Jesse Ryder to have New Zealand reeling at 96-5 after winning the toss and then wasting a promising 44-run opening stand led by Brendon McCullum (34).
Vettori then steadied the innings in an unbeaten 80-run sixth-wicket partnership with Dean Brownlie (32 not out), who survived two dropped catches and a streaky inside edge before recovering his nerves, to lift New Zealand to 176-5 before deteriorating light forced umpires to call tea after just 51 overs. Rain washed out the evening session.
"Probably advantage to Australia at the moment," McCullum said. "Without that partnership between Dan and Dean we'd be deep in trouble. They managed to get some momentum together and put us back in the game. We're slightly behind the 8-ball but we're going OK. We still think we're not far away from putting up a competitive total ... and hopefully we can expose some inexperience in the Australian top order as well."
Michael Clarke, leading Australia in his first test series on home soil, only had himself to blame for Australia losing momentum after lunch when he dropped a routine catch at slip off Peter Siddle when Brownlie was on three.
"No one likes to drop 'em, but we'll be right. We'll get back on tomorrow and hopefully knock over the last five wickets and get on with the batting," said Starc, who was the best of the Australian bowlers with 2-52 from 13 overs. The 21-year-old Starc said being handed his baggy green Australian cap from cricket great Richie Benaud was something he'd never forget.
"Obviously I'm pretty proud just to get the baggy green but to take a couple of wickets was fantastic as well, albeit that I bowled a few better balls and didn't get wickets, but I'm not going to give them back either."
Mitchell Starc took his second wicket in test cricket in the over after lunch to remove Jesse Ryder to have New Zealand reeling at 96-5 after winning the toss and then wasting a promising 44-run opening stand led by Brendon McCullum (34).
Vettori then steadied the innings in an unbeaten 80-run sixth-wicket partnership with Dean Brownlie (32 not out), who survived two dropped catches and a streaky inside edge before recovering his nerves, to lift New Zealand to 176-5 before deteriorating light forced umpires to call tea after just 51 overs. Rain washed out the evening session.
"Probably advantage to Australia at the moment," McCullum said. "Without that partnership between Dan and Dean we'd be deep in trouble. They managed to get some momentum together and put us back in the game. We're slightly behind the 8-ball but we're going OK. We still think we're not far away from putting up a competitive total ... and hopefully we can expose some inexperience in the Australian top order as well."
Michael Clarke, leading Australia in his first test series on home soil, only had himself to blame for Australia losing momentum after lunch when he dropped a routine catch at slip off Peter Siddle when Brownlie was on three.
"No one likes to drop 'em, but we'll be right. We'll get back on tomorrow and hopefully knock over the last five wickets and get on with the batting," said Starc, who was the best of the Australian bowlers with 2-52 from 13 overs. The 21-year-old Starc said being handed his baggy green Australian cap from cricket great Richie Benaud was something he'd never forget.
"Obviously I'm pretty proud just to get the baggy green but to take a couple of wickets was fantastic as well, albeit that I bowled a few better balls and didn't get wickets, but I'm not going to give them back either."
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