Aussies closing in
29 November, 2008

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey Australia needs a further 30 runs to take a first-innings lead in its 3 Mobile Test match against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval.

At stumps on day two, and chasing the Kiwis' 270, the Aussies were in a strong position at 3-241.

Mike Hussey is 69 not out and Michael Clarke is unbeaten on 43.

Daniel Vettori bowled tirelessly over the final two sessions and finished with figures of 1-54 off 28 overs while Iain O'Brien took the important wicket of Ricky Ponting only minutes after the tea break and has 1-63.

Hussey and Clarke controlled the final session with some patient but stylish batting and have put on 86 for the fourth wicket.

Clarke strode to the crease and got off the mark with a text-book straight drive. Hussey also played some memorable strokes with his sweeping and pull shots a feature.

It followed the critical 106-run stand between Ponting and Hussey which was the highlight of the second session.

The Australian skipper made batting look easy and smashed an amazing 11 boundaries by the time he reached his half century.

But the Kiwis dried up the runs and he was out pulling a ball to midwicket where he was caught for 79 by the towering Peter Fulton.

Despite its dominance, Australia made a shaky start to its run chase.

Matthew Hayden began his first knock in his 100th Test in style by hitting Chris Martin for a leg side boundary but a combination of bad calling and ball watching saw him run out for 24.


The big Queenslander took off for a single but was stranded as Simon Katich stayed anchored at the non-striker's end.

In the morning session Brett Lee ripped through New Zealand's lower order to see the tourists bowled out for 270.

Lee took 3-6 in a 27-ball spell and finished with first-innings figures of 4-66 while Mitchell Johnson took the other day-two wickets and finished with 2-56.

A change of pace saw Lee dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum. He also had Iain O'Brien caught behind before knocking Martin's middle stump out of the ground to deliver the No.11 another duck.

On day one, New Zealand wasted opportunities to be 6-262 at stumps.

The Kiwis got on the front foot by reaching 1-101 at lunch. But from that point wickets fell at regular intervals as a number of players threw away their wickets.

Aaron Redmond's innings was a highlight with the opener bullying Nathan Hauritz in the opening session.

He was eventually dismissed for 83 runs with 68 of his tally coming from boundaries and sixes.

McCullum and Vettori frustrated the Aussies with a gritty partnership in the afternoon but there was little resistance once the stand was broken early on day two.