MV: Welcome to all our viewers from around the world to the second day of this match between the NZ Black Caps and the Prime Minister's XI, which promises to be an exciting and enjoyable game of cricket.
AR: The Black Caps will resume their innings at 4/0, with openers Jamie How and Matthew Bell at the crease. There is a slight breeze flowing across the ground, so Magoffin will be bowling slightly into the breeze while Henriques will be bowling with it.
MV: The pitch is still very good- much the same as yesterday although of course slightly more worn. The bounce should still be very true but again if the bowlers bowl well there should be enough to extract a bit out of the wicket and pick up a few wickets. If the likes of Henriques, Magoffin, Thornely and Harris bowl tightly there is still a good chance the PM's XI could have a first innings lead, as New Zealand's batting has been shaky recently, to say the least.
AR: I'm afraid we have some very bad news for any PM's XI supporters out there, especially those from South Australia. Young leg spin bowler Cullen Bailey has badly bruised his right ring finger, and it's swollen up quite badly.
This means he may not be able to bowl in this innings unless he absolutely needs to, as unfortunately as a right arm leg spinner the ring finger is about the most important finger to grip and spin the ball.
MV: Yes that's a hard blow for the man and his team, although left arm chinamman Adam Voges will have a chance to prove himself against test batsman.
AR: Yes although it's unfortunate for young Bailey, it proves to be a most interesting day, with Voges as the frontline spinner, but right now it's Steve Magoffin with the ball in hand, bowling into a slight breeze from the Mall end...
New Zealand begin relatively slowly but steadily and reach 50/0 in the 18th over. Henriques bowls sharply but has little luck, while Magoffin cannot seem to find any rhythm, and only bowls five overs. Thornely and Harris are first and second change, and How then reaches his fifty off 75 balls with a hook for six off Thornely.
Henriques, Thornely and Harris do the majority of the bowling in this session, but none of them are able to extract anything out of the surface, with both batsmen looking very comfortable. Bell is defensive when the ball is pitched up, but leaps onto anything short as he cuts a four to bring up NZ's 100 runs, which comes of 27.2 overs.
Soon after this lunch is taken, with the score at 103/0, How on 66, Bell on 32.
AR: So the PM's XI are unable to make any inroads into the NZ line up this morning, with How batting very well and Bell looking comfortable at the crease.
MV: Henriques was unlucky, although Magoffin just never looked very threatening, but Thornely has toiled hard into the wind, which has got a lot stronger since the beginning of the day.
AR: Jamie How has batted beautifully, with Bell supporting him well. However no amount of pressure has been put on the New Zealanders by the Prime Minister's XI, as they have produced loose balls with regularity which have really let the pressure of the Black Caps.
MV: Ronchi will have a talk to his boys, and I'd be surprised if we didn't see Voges fairly early in the afternoon session, as his pace bowlers haven't really done the job so far, although it only takes a bit of luck for the bowlers and the inexperienced middle order is opened up.
AR: We hope you'll join us again after lunch for the second session of the day; you'll be taken through that session by Kiwi pair Ian Smith and Martin Crowe, who is out here playing beach cricket in the XXXX Gold Beach Cricket Trophy. They'll keep you up to date with the situation, as the PM's XI desperately look to break this partnership between How and Bell, and then of course look to restrict the New Zealanders to a small lead or even a first innings deficit. Both are possible, as the old saying goes "cricket's a funny game."
Older versions of the EA cricket games are always good This has been a classic start to the story.. All I wish is, this continues for the long term. May be if you have time, you can see m_vaughan's classic c2004 stories here we can get some more ideas as well. Till now, its a very good going.. I wish all the success to continue in future updates as well. Good luck
Ian Smith: Welcome back to Manuka Oval for this encounter between the touring New Zealanders and the Prime Minister's XI.
Martin Crowe: Having bowled out their opposition for 212 on the first day, the New Zealanders are well on top here at 103/0, with none of the bowlers getting a look in so far.
How is batting quite brilliantly, with Bell also looking comfortable, and unless the PM's XI can pick up a few wickets early after lunch, they'll quickly find themselves out of the game.
IS: The players and umpires are out there in the middle, with Dominic Thornely to bowl the opening over of the afternoon session to Matthew Bell, with Jamie How at the non striker's end.
MC: Thornely is running into bowl with two slips and a gully, making a 6:3 offside field...
Bell begins comfortably, on driving a three off the last ball of Thornely's over to keep the strike and play out a maiden off Henriques.
How then proceeds to hit four 4s off five balls off Thornely's next over, all drives through the covers as Thornely tries to get the edge by bowling swinging half volleys. They swing nicely but gently and How helps himself to four boundaries, bringing his score to 82.
How and Bell bat without much trouble for the next five or six overs, accumulating runs in singles and twos, but with the score on 135 Thornely just gets one to nip back a little and Bell is adjudged lbw for a well compiled 43, off 109 balls. Like Ronchi's dismissal it looked fairly leg sideish, but Hawkeye said it would clip his leg stump.
The new batsman is Stephen Fleming, and at last we see a spinner into the attack in the form of Adam Voges, who has a close shout for lbw against Fleming, but hawkeye and the umpires alike agree that it would have just passed over the top of the stumps.
How reaches his century with a graceful on drive, and deservedly raises his bat to his teammates in the changing rooms...
It's been an elegant, classical innings with some gorgeous drives as well as some great pulls and cuts.
Fleming looks in great touch as he punches the ball beautifully in the v and through the covers, although he's helped by Thornely's loose half volleys which he hits three consecutive fours from.
Magoffin bowls in tandem with Voges for a while, but they cannot stem the flow of runs, as Fleming reaches his fifty off just 60 balls.
The New Zealanders continue to dominate, with How sweeping Voges for six and generally taking the attack to the bowlers.
How reaches his 150 off 173 balls, having not shown any signs of loss of concentration and looking like he could just keep going.
Harris bowls a couple of tidy overs and is almost rewarded with a wicket when Fleming skies one down the ground but Pomersbach at Long Off couldn't quite reach it.
Tea is taken at 2:30pm, 61 overs into NZ's innings, with the score at 290/1, a run rate of about 4.75, and despite taking a wicket it has been a fruitless session for the PM's XI, conceding 187 runs off 33 overs.
IS: Well it's been a hard slog for the Prime Minister's XI, they've been totally dominated in this session by a fantastic batting display from How and Fleming.
MC: Yes signs of tiredness have certainly been creeping in, although I must mention Ronchi's work with the gloves has been impeccable. They must be totally demoralised- 78 runs behind with the likes of Taylor, Flynn and Ryder to come.
IS: Please join us again for the final session of the day, with the PM's XI desperately looking to get a few quick wickets and bowl the Black Caps out for as little as possible.
IS: And so the PM's XI have again taken to the field in a desperate effort to either bowl the New Zealanders out or take enough wickets to force a declaration.
MC: The New Zealand batsmen- centurion Jamie How, on 166, and Stephen Fleming who is on 70- are also out there in the middle, along with the umpires, and it's left arm chinaman Adam Voges- who has been the most penetrative-looking of all the bowlers so far...
The onslaught continues, as How smashes Voges for six over Long on...
and the batsmen just generally hit the bowlers around and takes runs at will.
They consistently hit the ball through the on and off side in front of cover and mid wicket, although Fleming plays some lovely late cuts off Voges and then plays one of the shots of the day, a beautiful straight drive off the tiring Moises Henriques.
Fleming reaches 99, but remains scoreless long enough to enable to How to reach his maiden first class double century before Fleming reaches three figures...
It truly has been a glorious innings- coming off just 211 balls, full of flowing shots, and never once has he been dropped or edged one near the slips. Quite spectacular.
Fleming though, reaches his 100 the next over and his celebration would go close to How's- the emotion obvious on his face. It meant a lot to him to overcome his trademark of getting out between 50 and 100, and of course returning to international cricket with a century.
Fleming hits another couple of fours but then finally, to the relief of the PM's XI, he is bowled by Adam Voges trying to hit him over mid wicket.
He departs for 112 off just 115 balls, a really great innings and a nice return to international cricket and playing for New Zealand.
The score is 400/2, and Vettori sends Ross Taylor out, deciding not to declare at this stage.
Taylor takes a while to get going, but How goes wild, launching an absolutely massive six of Thornely.
Taylor hits a couple of fours off Voges, and Vettori calls his men in with the score at 418/2, with How unbeaten on 243, Taylor 8 not out.
MC: What a fine performance from the New Zealanders, in particular Jamie How.
IS: He batted sensationally, one of the best innings I've seen in a long, long time. Credit to the PM's XI bowlers though, although their inexperienced showed they never gave up, and captain Ronchi always kept positive and made a real effort to make things happen.
MC: It's going to be a tough job for the PM's XI, trailing by 206 runs with a day to play, but if they bat well they shouldn't lose this match. They'll have about 7 or 8 overs to bat after the turnaround, and we hope you'll join us shortly for the last few overs of the day here at Manuka Oval, Canberra.
IS: So the situation here is that the PM's XI are 206 runs behind on the first innings, and have a day and about seven overs to play.
MC: They need to either bat for the rest of this test match, which is easily possible, or else bat long enough and score enough runs to ensure they can't lose if NZ get to bat again.
IC: Yes a win is definitley out of the question for the young Aussies, but they have pride to play for as salvaging a draw here would have to earn the respect of the New Zealanders, and the Australian cricket public.
MC: Once again Callum Ferguson and Ed Cowan are out there in the middle, and once again Shane Bond has the new ball in hand...
There are a few plays and misses from both batsmen off Bond and Southee, but they look comfortable by and large, and when bad light again stops play they are 7 for no loss, with Cowan on 5, Ferguson on 2.
They now have a day to bat, trailing by 199 runs, still with ten wickets in hand.
MC: A small target reached there for the PM's XI, they still have ten wickets in hand with a day to play.
IS: Again I reiterate, if they bat well and apply themselves they won't lose this match, as they will pass the New Zealander's score but the Black Caps won't have time to get the runs. However, if they bat like they did in their first innings, New Zealand will win easily.
MC: It's going to be a fascinating day's cricket tomorrow, so we really hope you'll join our team again tomorrow for the final day of this three day tour match between the PM's XI and the New Zealanders.
Michael Veletta: Welcome to Manuka Oval for the third and final day of this match between the Prime Minister's XI and the New Zealanders. Martin Crowe and I will take you through this session, which promises to be a key session in deciding the result of this match.
Martin Crowe: Yes the PM's XI really need to bat well and that needs to start from the openers. They did well for a short time yesterday, but need to press on and give their side a solid start. For mine, the PM's XI can't afford to be any more than three or four wickets down at lunch.
MV: I agree, Hogan, but Bond, Southee, Franklin and Vettori will have other ideas. If two of them hit the straps then they should win this match.
MC: Callum Ferguson and Ed Cowan are out there in the middle with the the New Zealand side, and of course th umpires. Southee is running into bowl the first over of the day, the fourth of this innings...
Disaster strikes for the PM's XI as Ferguson is caught at slip by Fleming in Southee's first over.
Travis Birt, who top scored in the first innings, joins Ed Cowan at the crease.
He edges a four of Bond, but Southee bowls a peach, swinging late away from Birt and again Fleming grasps the catch at first slip.
It's a big blow for the PM's XI, as Dominic Thornely strides out to the crease, determined to prove himself after failing in the first innings.
He stays with Cowan for several overs, long enough for Cowan to play a graceful cover drive off Bond...
but eventually Bond picks up his first wicket, getting Thornely caught behind by Hopkins for just 10.
The PM's are reeling at 40/3, with Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2007, Luke Pomersbach joining Cowan at the crease. He has recently changed sponsors from Woodworm to Puma. He bats confidently and works a couple of his legs for boundaries, but Cowan makes a fatal error, misjudging a ball for Bond and padding up to a reasonably straight ball. It hit him outside off, but didn't play a shot and was out lbw for 23.
If things were bad at this stage, they were about to get worse as a rapid, late inswinger from Bond cleans out the new batsman Adam Voges for a golden duck:
The PM's XI really are in deep trouble at this stage, as captain Luke Ronchi walks out to the middle in a desperate attempt to build a partnership with Pomersbach and save the game for his side.
He does well in this, as the pair see their team over 50 in the eighteenth over, and soon after see off Bond and Southee. Franklin and Ryder are less threatening, as Pomersbach unleashes some cracking drives off Franklin...
which causes Vettori to bring himself on. He takes floats the ball up and encourages the batsmen to play attacking shots, which they do, but for the moment it comes of for them, with Ronchi planting him into the stand via a lofted drive over cover...
and then pulls him for four next ball.
Ryder continues accurately, but he is more of a back up to give nothing away while Vettori bowls attackingly at the other end. Pomersbach mixes hard hitting with finesse, playing a lovely late cut off Vettori...
and soon after the 1st session draws to a close, with the PM's XI 93/5 off 31 overs.
MC: Well the PM's XI finishing off that session a lot better than how they started.
MV: Yes it was a disasterous start, Southee was bowling beautifully and Bond was devastating. After Southee swept aside Ferguson and Birt, Bond ripped out Thornely, Cowan and Voges in the space of two overs.
MC: However Pomersbach and Ronchi have done well, playing crisp attacking shots and both batsmen look up to the challenge.
MV: Join us again after lunch for what will most likely be the deciding session of the match.
MV: Welcome to Session 2 on the final day of this tour match between the New Zealanders and the Prime Minister's XI. The PM's XI will resume their 2nd innings at 93/5, with Luke Pomersbach and Luke Ronchi at the crease.
MC: These two batsman have fought hard and played well to save the game, but there's a long way to go. Both have confidence and look set for good innings, but Vettori is a tough bowler to get on top of and if someone else bowls tightly at the other end there shouldn't be any chance of the PM's XI salvaging the draw.
MV: Having said that, if the attacking nature of both batsmen pays off, a big partnership would see the PM's XI too far ahead of the Black Caps to force a result, even if they get bowled out. I can't really see them batting the whole day, so that seems to be the main opportunity for them to save the match.
MC: It's all up to these two and Henriques for me. All three are capable of saving this match, but at least one of them needs to accumulate a big score and bat with the tail when needed. Harris can handle a bat well enough to hang around, but if they get down to Bailey and Magoffin the innings will most likely end rather quickly.
MV: Right, enough analysis, it's up to the players now. This should be an immensely fascinating session. Vettori has the ball in his hand, and he's running in to bowl to Pomersbach, who's on 35 ...
Both batsmen continue to play well, with Ronchi using his feet beautifully to Vettori:
And Pomersbach hits Ryder nicely straight and through the covers.
Both batsmen punch the ball nicely with a straight bat, but also leap on to anything short.
Pomersbach reaches his half century, off just 66 balls, but almost immediately after falls to the patience of Vettori, skying one to Daniel Flynn at Mid On, who takes the catch nonchalantly.
He holed out for a fluent 59, and Henriques strides out to the crease to join his captain, with the score at 136/6. Ronchi and Pomersbach were starting to worry the New Zealanders, but just as they started to get dangerous Vettori struck, getting his side well on top, with four wickets to get, leading by 70 runs.
Ronchi continues playing nicely, sweeping Vettori for four in the same over...
and reaches his fifty soon after, off 86 balls. It's 162/6, and Henriques has now settled in, giving his skipper the strike.
Southee replaces Ryder, and is immediately driven by Ronchi for six over cover.
Henriques sweeps Vettori (who has bowled from one end right through this session) for a boundary, and the PM's XI edge closer to NZ's 206 run lead.
Eventually Henriqes brings up his side's lead, with a lofted drive, bringing the PM's XI to 208/6, a lead by two runs.
Meanwhile Ronchi continues to dance around the crease with his artful footwork, and brings up his well deserved century...
but soon after is bowled by an outswinger from Vettori, which he lunges at and misses comprehensively.
It's been a valiant effort from the young man, a real captain's innings, but with his wicket any hope of saving the match is almost gone; it is going to take a huge effort from the lower order to bat for most of the rest of this match.
Ryan Harris is the new batsman, but doesn't get to face a ball, as it is the end of the over, and Henriques plays out the last over before drinks.
MC: Well the PM's XI have had a go at saving this match, but it seems now that a win is inevitable for New Zealand.
MV: Ronchi played exceptionally, but with his wicket the match is now almost certainly decided. There is no hope of rain, so Moises Henriques- who is playing well enough to see his team home- will have to bat through with Harris. As far as unlikely draws go, Harris and Henriques will absolutely have to bat for a lot of the final session of the match.
MC: Yes, and we'll hope you'll join us for this match's final session, which will either be a good, enjoyable win for the Black Caps and their supporters, or just maybe a fantastic effort to save the match from the Prime Minister's XI. We'll have coverage of the final session as it happens, live here at Channel 9's Wide World of Sports, and of course Cricinfo.
Good work there for PM's XI by Pomersbach and Ronchi, a shame they could not survive till this final session. The tail really needs to wag up here to save them. Excellent work mate, really am enjoying this story
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This has been a classic start to the story.. All I wish is, this continues for the long term. May be if you have time, you can see m_vaughan's classic c2004 stories here we can get some more ideas as well. Till now, its a very good going.. I wish all the success to continue in future updates as well. Good luck 
