Kiwis on the ropes
22 November, 2008

Brett Lee A sterling unbeaten century from Simon Katich, who became the 10th Australian opener ever to carry his bat though a Test innings, has helped put his side on top of New Zealand at stumps on day three of the 3 Mobile Test at the Gabba.

A crowd of 11,347 were on hand to see Katich's classy 131 that boosted Australia to a second innings total of 268, setting the Black Caps a difficult 327 for victory partway through the second session.

Australia snagged two wickets before tea and then four in the final session, including two momentum-shifting scalps on the eve of stumps, as the visitors were reduced to 6-143 at the end of play, still needing a further 184 runs to claim an unlikely victory.

After the Black Caps collapsed to 4-49, Ross Taylor (67 not out) and Daniel Flynn (29) offered stubborn resistance in a fighting 84-run partnership, ensuring New Zealand would live to fight another day.

But their hard work was undone when Flynn, who initially showed more of the same stodginess that was on display in his unbeaten first innings score of 39, played on to Mitchell Johnson in the fourth last over of play.

There was to be even more drama though, with a wicket falling on the last ball of the day, when Grant Elliott (0) shouldered arms to a swinging ball from Stuart Clark that knocked back his off stump.

Earlier, Brett Lee took little time to claim his 300th Test wicket after the innings break, guaranteeing New Zealand would start its chase in disastrous fashion.

The paceman struck in the first over, removing Jamie How for a golden duck when How attempted to drive, but instead edged a swinging delivery to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

The dismissal triggered jubilant celebrations from Lee, who joined the exclusive company of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee as the only Australians to clock up 300 Test victims.

Clark then came to the party in the 10th over when he completed a juggling caught and bowled chance after Aaron Redmond (10) hammered a fuller ball straight at Clark.

Jesse Ryder (24) again unveiled some impressive shots but once more went early in the piece, trapped lbw by Johnson in the second over after the tea break.

Ten minutes later things went from bad to worse for the Black Caps when dangerman Brendon McCullum went meekly for three, adjudged lbw by umpire Rudi Koertzen after he shouldered arms to a shifting ball from Clark.


Taylor rebuilt and looked at ease compiling his fourth Test half-century, stroking nine boundaries, but his efforts were spoiled by the two late wickets that severely dented New Zealand's hopes of claiming what would be a remarkable triumph after Katich earlier grabbed the match by the throat.

Katich, who started the day on 67, added vital runs as he sustained his dogged innings, finishing unbeaten on 131 to become the first Australian opener to carry his bat since Mark Taylor's 169 not out at Adelaide Oval in 1998.

Katich's resolute ton, brought up with a hearty pulled boundary, was his sixth Test century and will no doubt be fondly remembered by the 33-year-old after he spent over five hours at the crease to help add respect to a scorecard dearly needing some.

The knock could well prove to be a match-winner, with Johnson the only other Australian batsman to make it past 20 for Australia in a below par second innings.

Katich elegantly controlled the tempo in his 245-ball stay at the crease, although he was given two lives by the visitors.

Iain O'Brien failed to complete a caught and bowled opportunity while Katich was on 70 before Ryder grassed a chance when he was 14 runs shy of his first Test century at the Gabba.

It was NZ skipper Daniel Vettori who created the second chance, deceiving Katich, who produced an inside edge that popped up to Ryder at short leg.

The burly batsman had to hurl himself to make it to the edge, but still got one hand to the leather, only for the ball to spill out and drop safe.

Katich survived and along with the contributions of tailenders Johnson (31) and Clark (18), who Katich combined with for handy partnerships of 53 and 29 respectively, gave Australia a strangle hold of the match.

Earlier Vettori led from the front for the Black Caps, with his left-arm spin doing all the damage in the morning.

The home side resumed play at 6-131 after a tumultuous second day where 16 wickets fell, and after initially offering some much-needed resistance, Brad Haddin (19) fell to Vettori's arm-ball.

The delivery snuck through the gap between Haddin's bat and pad to clean bowl the Australian keeper.

Lee (seven) fared just as well as Vettori continued to bowl with great flight to finish with figures of 2-46, but he could not bring about the downfall of Katich quick enough and his side paid full price.