KIWIS COME UP SHORT

Fortunatly the Kiwis can hold their heads up high after this game especially in their efforts in chasing 311 to win.

They battled hard throughout the innings with the stand outs being Astle, Twose and to a lesser degree Harris, but there was disappointment with some of the dismissals of some of the other Kiwi batsmen. The pressure must now be on the selectors to pick Craig Spearman again after another failure.

Australia were spearheaded with Gilchrist, Waugh and Bevan in their batting effort while Brett Lee, as per usual, was involved in everything when bowling. His delivery to dismiss Adam Parore will be talked about for days to come having knocked the Kiwi wicketkeeper's helmet off from a bouncer and the helmet falling onto the stumps. Where's the no ball?

Umpires Steve Dunne and Doug Cowie were very ordinary today and although New Zealand were completely outplayed in this game they could have been assisted at times with bit of benefit of the doubt.

Australian captain Steve Waugh was happy with his sides performance, especially the batting. He was disappointed with how his bowling attack lost their way in the first 20 overs but fought back well through Damian Martyn.

Waugh incidently was only on the field for the opening overs of New Zealand's innings, leaving the field to rest his ankle. The Australian captain twisted it while batting but he is expecting to be fit by Saturday.

Both sides move on to Christchurch now with Australia holding a two-nil lead with three games to play, there sits a very tough assignment for New Zealand if they are to win this series.

THE PRESSURE IS MOUNTING

The Kiwis have reached 227 for seven with Chris Harris and Scott Styris at the wicket and with 10 overs remaining it looks an uphill task for them with the run rate pushing 10 runs per over, but the previous wicket of Adam Parore has filled the match with a bit of controversy.

Parore was dismissed hit wicket after the ball brushed his shoulder before crashing into the side of his helmet, breaking the strap and causing the helmet to fall on to the stumps. The umpires deliberated for a minute but the delivery was ruled legitimate and not a no ball.

After that the crowd became boisterous and started throwing cans onto the ground so the game was held for about 10 minutes as the field was cleared.

So there's been a lot more action besides what has been on the pitch but at this stage New Zealand holds a faint whisper of a hope to reach victory. Vettori is to come in next but after him you can give up so New Zealand will be hoping for Styris, Harris and Vettori to see the home side through.

KIWIS STILL IN WITH CHANCE

Both Astle and Twose were batting extremely well putting on 121 runs for the third wicket before Twose was plumb LBW courtesy of Martyn and then Astle lost his wicket 22 balls later needlessly swinging across the line and being bowled by Warne.

Those two dismissals have really upset the apple cart for the New Zealanders and if they're not careful they could lose this match by more than 100 runs.

At 197 for four from 30 overs Cairns and McMillan have the task of seeing New Zealand past the 250 mark. Any loss of wicket in the ensuing five overs and the Kiwis are in a real hole.

KIWIS OFF TO GREAT START

The Kiwis reached 101 for the loss of Craig Spearman and captain Stephen Fleming after 15 overs but they're going along at a very good rate for this part of the innings at 6.94 per over.

The required run rate is now 5.88 and that is largely to Nathan Astle's part having scored 42 of 46 balls and, in partnership with Roger Twose, put on 54 for the third wicket at close to run a ball.

These two need to continue in the same vein because if another wicket fell in the next few overs the Kiwis would be back on the back foot again.

Spearman was out early for two and must surely be dropped for the next game while Fleming had his fun in middle taking six off two Damian Fleming balls before driving it straight to Mathew Hayden at cover. The Black Caps' captain must be very disappointed with his dismissal.

But now Astle and Twose carry New Zealand's hopes and to see the Kiwis through one of these batsman needs to get close if not over the century mark.

IT HAD TO COME

His innings topped off a complete all round display by the Australian batting line up starting with the smash and dash of Adam Gilchrist at the top of the innings, complimented by the assured Mark Waugh at the other end. Then came Mathew Hayden who continued the procession before Michael Bevan and Steve Waugh set them up into a position to launch a final assault. Symonds delivered, knocking a six and five fours.

Kiwi coach David Trist will be very disappointed with his charges in terms of their effort in the field. The bowler was very loose, gifting runs with short and wide bowling while the fielding was the worst seen by any Kiwi team in years. Drop catches, over throws and misfields all contributed to an appalling display in the field from the home side.

To add to their woes the Black Caps will be up against it when they come out to bat. For starters they have a required run rate of over 6.2 and that's against a world class attack which has just been boosted for this game with the addition of Damien Fleming.

Imagine the pressure on opener Craig Spearman. Having only scored five runs in his past four innings he's right up against it when he comes out to face Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee on a pitch which is perfect for batting. There's plenty of bounce and pace but that sounds very Australian like. Just look at their score.

It's the same old story for the Kiwis, they can't lose cheap wickets at the top of the order and they definitely can't fall behind the run rate. They have to mix aggression with control and in the same turn keep the run rate in check.

Easier said than done that's for sure.

AUSTRALIA STILL ON TOP

Australia's batting attack keeps ticking over with the 'Ockers' at 208 for three and going at 5.20 runs per over and New Zealand seem to have no answer.

Harris and Cairns did claim the wickets of Hayden and Waugh but they were against the run of play and just a minor clitch in the whole scheme of things as far as the visitors are concerned.

Stephen Fleming has a problem with who to bowl now. He is forced to bring on Scott Styris who opened up in the 12th over only to be taken off just as quick having conceded 15. Cairns has four and Wisneski has five overs remaining but both are pretty expensive so Fleming looks to have no where to go.

At the moment, it wouldn't matter who he bowled because the Aussie batsmen are scoring off anyone, anyhow and anywhere. You name it they do it, five runs for Bevan after four over throws and an over throw after a shie at the stumps hits and then deflects away for the batsmen to run another.

It's all running Australia's way and you suspect New Zealand won't get a look in when they come to bat.

THE AUSTRALIAN MASTERPIECE CONTINUES

Yes, the Adam Gilchrist show is over but it was worth every dollar. The left hander was eventually dismissed for 77 off 65 balls along way back in the 19th over. But what a delightful innings, spraying the Kiwi attack all around the ground and he went down blazing too, caught a deep square leg by Chris Cairns off the bowling of Daniel Vettori.

Stephen Fleming must be ruing his decision to send Australia in to bat because come 6.30 tonight his lads will have a mammoth assignment to overhaul what his going to be a huge total from Australia.

Mathew Hayden and Mark Waugh are keeping the runs ticking over and with nine wickets in hand, Australia are setting themselves up for a biggie.

JUST WHAT NEW ZEALAND DIDN'T NEED.

The Carisbrook deck looks to be a belter and Adam Gilchrist from Western Australia and familiar with the WACA, looking right at home. He pulls, he cuts, he drives, he lofts over the infield, this is turning out to be the Adam Gilchrist show. 62 runs off 41 balls, not bad at all.

Gilchrist has made New Zealand look like a B Grade attack with Cairns going for 31 off six overs and Wisneski going for 31 also off only five. Scott Styris' first over cost him 15.

Chris Harris and Daniel Vettori are now plugging away and temporarily slowing down the scoring or more precisely the boundaries. Gilchrist and Waugh are still finding the singles very comfortably.

The way Australia is going at the moment they are looking at a score close to 300 and New Zealand doesn't even look close to stopping it.

NZ V AUSTRALIA THIRD ODI IN DUNEDIN

If New Zealand lose today's game thay have to win the remaining three games to win the series and that's a huge ask against the juggernaut of an Australian side.

Good to see Stephen Fleming has won the toss and sent Australia into bat. At least we can expect a longer game that eventuated in Auckland.

The pitch is hard and fast and full of runs so expect a lot of short-of-the-length bowling but the Kiwi bowlers have to be careful, anything wide and it will be dismissed to the short boundaries square of the wicket.

There has been a change for both sides from the line-ups at Eden Park. Canterbury paceman Warren Wisneski comes into the Kiwi line-up to push Paul Wiseman to 12th man while Australia has called in speedster Damian Fleming to join Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee in the fast bowling ranks. Shane Lee has be dropped altogether so Ian Harvey remains 12th man.

New Zealand are desperate for an early breakthrough because if Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist get off to a good start the game will be out of the home side's reach. Unfortunately I can't see Wisneski pulling off this breakthrough. It's going to be up to the likes of Cairns and Vettori to stand up and be counted today.

Date-stamped : 23 Feb2000 - 14:23