Honours were evenly split between the New Zealand and Australian Cricket Academies after the second day of their second three-day game at Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University today.

The Commonwealth Bank Australian side scored 304/9 from 78 overs yesterday, and today, after 77 overs, the New Zealand side were 289/9.

Play was delayed after overnight rain and did not start until 1.30pm. The openers put on 60 before the first wicket, Jamie How, fell while the New Zealand 100 was posted in the 24th over.

Reece Young, opened the batting and batted impressively through the first session and was 88 not out at tea, his 50 having been scored from 69 balls. He was accurate in his cutting and pulling of the ball against an Australian attack which was erratic as the New Zealand combination was yesterday.

However, the tea break had its effect and Young was run out when attempting a third run following a Shanan Stewart straight drive. His 89 came from 121 balls and included 13 fours and two sixes.

New Zealand lost Jonathan McNamee to his third leg before wicket dismissal of the series, and Stewart when he chopped the ball onto his wickets. At 189/5 the situation was dicey.

Fortunately, the McCullum brothers, Brendon and Nathan, were in the mood to set about recovering the situation in what has become their usual fashion. They scored 55 off 87 balls and eventually finished with 66 runs in 64 minutes. Nathan was out to Daniel Christian's medium pace but Brendon carried on to a half century off 70 balls. However, he too fell to Christian's bowling when on 53.

Christian's spell went from the ridiculous to the sublime within a few overs. His first four overs cost 35 runs, but then he took four wickets for one run when tightening up his bowling.

Wade Cornelius was 18 not out when play ended for the day.

Christian's figures at the end of the day were 4-43 from 11 overs.

© CricInfo