Story Oceania Premier League

Q: Who should be today's Solo Player of the Day?

  • Brad Haddin

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Tim Southee

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    6
PM's XI vs New Zealand: Final Session

Ian Smith: Ashley Ross and I will take you through the last session of this match, with the Prime Minister's XI in trouble at 231/7, with Moises Henriques still there on 19, and Ryan Harris yet to face a ball.

AR: They lead by only 25 runs, so they need to either bat out this whole session, or score enough runs so that the Kiwis won't have time to score the runs required. Southee will continue with the ball at the Mall End...


Henriques hooks Southee for four first ball...

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and continues to play nicely and look comfortable against both bowlers. It is a different story for Harris though, who is caught behind off Southee for a duck. A loss is now almost certain for the PM's XI

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Bailey surprises by confidently blocking out an over from Southee, and even uses his feet and lifts Vettori over his head for a couple. However, unfortunately for his side, he is run out attempting a quick single off Vettori. Flynn's throw is good and Vettori does the rest, taking off the bails as quickly as possible.

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This brings the PM's XI last batsman to the crease, with the score at 246/9, a lead of just 40. Henriques smashes Southee for 4 over his head...

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But the final wicket of the innings falls in Vettori's next over, as Henriques is adjudged lbw attempting a sweep shot

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Hawkeye says the ball would have hit half way up leg stump, and the umpire agrees, as the innings concludes at 250 all out. NZ will need to chase down 45 runs, with 22 overs in which to do so.


IS: Well an unfortunately short passage of play for the PM's XI, polished off for just 250. It should be a doddle for the Kiwis, needing just 45 runs in 22 overs. Talk of Taylor or Ryder going up the order has been dispelled- How and Bell have padded up, with Fleming also putting on the pads.

AR: Yes, I think that's sensible- why break up an opening partnership that put on 135 for the first wicket in the first innings? Yes it really should be a walkover for the Kiwi openers, not that Henriques and Magoffin aren't quality bowlers, but they are on a hiding to nothing really, and probably won't be particularly motivated.

IS: There'll be about five minutes between now and the start of NZ's second innings. Join us then for the conclusion of this match!


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IS: Matthew Bell and Jamie How, who made a quite remarkable double hundred in the first innings, are at the crease, with Moises Henriques having the impossible task of trying to stop the New Zealanders from getting the 45 runs they need for victory. He's running into bowl now...

How gets the innings underway first ball with a leg glance, and then Bell smashes a short ball for four off the next ball.

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Magoffin opens up at the other end, and bowls a really tight maiden to How. Bell then smashes a six off Henriques over mid on:

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and continues to look better and better, punching a beautiful straight push for four off Magoffin in the next over...

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How goes inside out over cover:

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but then for three overs the batsmen only get 5 runs, all singles. Nevertheless, the batsmen stay patient and are rewarded, as How hits a huge six over mid on to claim the match for New Zealand. The jubilation on Bell's face...

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and the sheer disappointment on Magoffin's face say it all.

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So the New Zealanders win the match by 10 wickets.

AR: Well, what a thumping victory for New Zealand. That last passage of play really epitomised the game- the Kiwis taking their chances and really putting themselves in winning positions- the PM's XI almost too dazed to do anything, and just let the game unfold in front of them.

IS: Yes it seemed to me that the New Zealand side were the ones that made things happen, for the young Prime Minister's XI it just seemed to be a coincidence that anything was happening to them. There were exceptions, though- Birt's 76 in the first innings, and Pomersbach and Ronchi's efforts in the second innings, but they lost the game with their bowling. Their inexperience showed and no New Zealand batsman was dismissed for less than 43, and the PM's XI could only take 2 wickets in the entire game, conceeding 466 runs. No bowler stood up, and their side paid for it, being thrashed by 10 wickets.

AR: Keep checking Cricinfo for the latest articles and reviews on this match, and of course all the news for the upcoming 3 Mobile Test Series between Australi and New Zealand.


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New Zealand got an easy win there but the bowling by PM's wasn't the best. Hopefully New Zealand can take this form into the test series against Australia.

Good presentation, mate.
 
Oceania Premier League Announced

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Oceania Premier League News

CEOs announce Oceania Premier League
Write-up by Dylan Cleaver, OPL correspondent

New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia's CEOs today announced a complete revamp of their domestic structures. With the proven success of Australia's KFC T20 Big Bash, and New Zealand's HRV Cup, a major move has been made to combine the tournaments to create the ultimate "Twenty20 Celebration of the Southern Hemishpere Summer", as the slogan goes.

Justin Vaughan stated that "It is well proven that our cultures mix well. There are successful tournaments which cross over our domestic sides in Rugby Union, Rugby League, Football, and Netball. We are confident that the Oceania Premier League will deliver a high standard of cricket and provide local players with fantastic opportunities.

The tournament will consist of 12 teams - 7 from Australia, 4 from New Zealand, and 1 from the Pacific, each contesting for the end prize, which will be around $10m Australian dollars - the two finalists will both qualify for the Champions League in India later in the year. The teams are as follows:

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Similar to the Indian Premier League, each franchise will be able to sign overseas players, with the playing XI able to be made up of 5 overseas signings, and 6 local players. The week-long Auction process begins in three days, and following it, each team will announce their 16 man squad individually, in alphabetical order.

Stay tuned at oplt20.com for the latest updates



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Australia vs NZ at the Gabba: Build Up

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Richie Benaud: Welcome to the Wollongabba Ground in Brisbane, where Australia will take on New Zealand in the first match of the inaugural 3 Mobile Trans-Tasman Trophy. It promises to be an exciting encounter, as the ever improving Black Caps side looks to prove themselves against a rebuilding Australian lineup. Tony Grieg, as always, is out in the middle to give you the inside information on the pitch and weather conditions, as well as the condition of the outfield...

TG: Thank you very much Richie and it's a beautiful day in Brisbane. Just a few clouds about, nice and warm, but not overly hot or humid. Turning to our weather wall, it's 28? C, with a humidity level of 62%. It's likely that the weather will remain similar for the duration of this day's play, as the forecast predicts fine weather for the entire week, so it should be nice and light for the whole day.

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Looking at the pitch, I would say that if Ricky Ponting wins the toss he will break his tradition of batting first, as it looks very helpful to the bowlers. The surface is very green and lush, looking to be very helpful to seam bowlers, although the pitch is very flat and even, so once it browns off, which should be around the afternoon session of Day Two, it should be a really good batting track. However, it is very juicy, so whoever bats first will do very well to get over 300, with a par score for me being 250. It does give a significant advantage for the team bowling first, as they have the benefit of a helpful bowling pitch, and then probably a much better batting pitch as it browns off and dries out. Also, there won't be much help for the spinners on the fifth day, as the pitch is hard and even, unlikely to have broken up by then. So for me, and probably for Vettori and Ponting as well, it's a win the toss and bowl first pitch. Back to you, Rich.

RB: Thank you very much Tony, you're right it looks one of the greener pitches I've seen at the Gabba for quite a while.
Mark Taylor is down on the strip for the toss, with captains Daniel Vettori of New Zealand, and Ricky Ponting of Australia.


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MT: Thanks, Richie, and yes I've joined both captains down here in the centre, along with match referee Ranjan Madugalle for the toss. Ricky Ponting has the coin, and you'll do the honours, Ricky?

RP: Yep, here we go...

DV: Heads

MT: And it is heads. So Daniel Vettori you've won the toss, what would you like to do?

DV: We'll bowl first, thanks, Tubby.

MT: So Daniel Vettori has won the toss and elected to bowl, here at the Gabba. That probably wasn't the most difficult decision you've ever made, Dan...

DV: No, that's right. With Shane Bond leading our attack, as well as Tim Southee, Chris Martin, and Jacob Oram, it was always the plan to bowl first on this pitch. It suits their style, bowling it into the pitch. Hopefully we can make early inroads into the Australian batting lineup and keep the pressure on from there.

MT: Thanks, Dan, and now we'll turn to Ricky Ponting. I assume you would have bowled first?

RP: Yeah, that's right Tubby, but we've got one of the best batting teams in the world and we can get runs on any deck, I reckon. We'll have to apply ourselves well and use everything we've got, but I reckon we can get something over 300, maybe even around the 400 mark.

MT: Thanks Ricky, so the news is that New Zealand have won the toss and will bowl first in this match at the Gabba. Back to you Richie, in the central commentary position.

RB: Thanks, Mark, so a predictable decision from Vettori, and a statement of belief from Ponting. He's confident that his side can come up with the goods and put together a good total. If the Australians could get something around or over 400, it would really knock the New Zealanders' confidence and set them back for when they bat, and for the rest of the series.
Now, let's have a look at the teams:

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Jaques comes in and Katich just misses out, with the decision made to play Beau Casson ahead of another seamer, probably Ben Hilfenhaus. And there's no room for Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds returning to the side after a stint away from the game when his country toured India. Now let's take a look at the New Zealand team:

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The pace bowling attack is Bond, Southee and Martin, with medium pacer Oram likely to bowl as much as any of them. Kyle Mills, Michael Mason and James Franklin miss out, and there's no room for Jesse Ryder in the batting line up. He will be disappointed, as he didn't get an opportunity against the Prime Minister's XI, but to be fair Jamie How and Fleming needed some time out in the middle.
The players and umpires will emerge in about 10 minutes time, and we'll come back then to bring you live coverage of this match on Channel 9's Wide World of Sports, in conjunction with Cricinfo.

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NZ vs Australia at the Gabba: 1st Session

RB: Welcome back to the Gabba for the opening Test match of the inaugural 3 Mobile Trans-Tasman Trophy. The news is that New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss, and has elected to bowl. The pitch looks very green and juicy on the surface, so if New Zealand bowl well the Australians might just have a contest on their hands. The umpires, namely Steve Bucknor and Rudi Koertzen, are making their way out to the middle, closely followed by Daniel Vettori and his men.

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Now the Australian openers, Matthew Hayden and Phil Jaques, are walking out, and the crowd is giving them a very warm reception. We have a rough count of about 31,000 here, which is a very respectable effort from the Queensland cricket supporters. We'll now go down to Ian Smith and Michael Slater Taylor in the commentary box.

MS: Thanks, Richie. Good morning to all our viewers around the world, this promises to be an exciting match. NZ have the advantage in terms of winning the toss, which for my mind is good because it will make this series immensely more interesting if the New Zealanders can get the better of, or at least compete with the Aussies today. Hayden will be searching for runs after a relatively dry patch, and Phil Jaques will also be desperate to prove his selection over Simon Katich is warranted, after mixed reactions from the Australian cricket public on that decision.

IS: Right you are, Slats, and the same goes for Shane Bond, keen to knock over the Aussies again and prove he is back better than ever, and young Tim Southee who has been recalled to the test team, ahead of Gillespie, O'Brien and Franklin. Rightio, Bond has been thrown the ball, and he's running in from the Vulture Street end to bowl to Phil Jaques...


Bond has the help of a slight breeze blowing from left to right across him, and his first ball uses this breeze to swing the ball away from Jaques slightly, catching the edge of Jaques prod, but it escapes through the slips for 2. Jaques is not confident and the pitch is doing a bit for Bond, but he survives the over.
Southee opens up from the Stanley Street End, and begins well, extracting some jag from the pitch:

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but Hayden is more confident than Jaques, cover driving Southee for 4 in the 2nd over of the day.

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Bond proceeds to bowl a tight maiden to Jaques. Jaques is a bit out of sorts but battles hard, although Bond is really bowling well. Southee continues, and Hayden begins by edging an upper cut over the slips for 4...

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Southee changes tack and comes round the wicket to Hayden, but Hayden is looking good, and plays an even better cover drive for 4 more, moving his score to 12.

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The New Zealanders are looking likely but Hayden is defiant. He leg glances a single down to fine leg off the last ball of the over to keep the strike and face Bond for the first time. He plays and misses once, and then prods at one outside off stump. The ball deviated a tiny bit, and the New Zealanders go up in a huge appeal for caught behind.

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Hayden stands there, and umpire Koertzen gives it not out, but McCullum makes the signal to refer the decision. This is the first time a decision has been challenged in a test match in Australia. Umpire Mark Benson decides to use Hotspot do detect whether Hayden edged the ball.

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It is a feather edge, but an edge nonetheless, and Mark Benson quickly informs Rudi Koertzen that Hayden edged the ball, and Koertzen raises his finger, giving Hayden out caught behind by McCullum. Hayden walks off shaking his head, but he can't really complain. It's 15/1, and captain Ricky Ponting strides out to the crease.
Ponting looks solid against Bond, and plays out the rest of the over uneventfully. Jaques edges another one through the slips for a couple, but starts to look better, and plays a lovely on drive for 4 between the bowler and mid on.

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Ponting plays out another over from Bond, looking rock solid but is finding it difficult to get any shots away. He does take a quick single to deepish mid off, but then plays out a maiden from Southee, who is swinging the ball both ways and looking increasingly more comfortable at the bowling crease.
Jaques resumes his struggle against Bond, but it doesn't last long- first Bond swings one back in, and has a shout for lbw turned down by Koertzen, but the Kiwis don't challenge it. Hawkeye said the ball would have just missed off stump.

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Then Bond unleashes a beautiful outswinging yorker to the left hander, bowling Jaques neck and crop.

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He trudges off, knowing that he looked decidedly shaky apart from one shot, and Michael Clarke joins his skipper at the crease, in an attempt to rebuild after losing both their openers.
It has been a shaky start from the Aussies, but they could still post a big score. However, that changes to a horror start as Southee bowls a beauty to Ponting, enticing the forward push and Fleming snaffles the catch at first slip.

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The Black Caps are jubilant, as the skipper slowly walks back to the pavilion, bringing Mike Hussey to the crease. He looks assured, cutting Southee for 4

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but almost a carbon copy of Matt Hayden's dismissal follows, Southee just getting the ball to bounce a bit more than Hussey expected and taking the shoulder of the bat.

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It made almost no sound, but umpire Steve Bucknor saw the seam change and the ball deviate slightly, and raised his finger. Snicko showed that Bucknor had made the right decision:

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This brings Andrew Symonds to the crease, who has been struggling for form lately.
However, to complete an unbelievable run of great seam, swing and fast bowling, Bond rips out the off stump of the in form Michael Clarke, with fast, swinging seamer. This pitch is not great for batting, but Bond and Southee have bowled so well so far. It's 37/5 and to be fair to the Australians, none of them have given their wickets away- it's just been top quality bowling from the two New Zealand openers.

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Haddin and Symonds look to rebuild, seeing off Southee and Bond, which brings about a double change- Martin and Oram come on.
Martin hits the pitch hard, but in an attempt to do so drops a bit short occasionally. Haddin takes advantage of this, hooking a 4 to get off the mark.

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Oram also hits the pitch from his height, and gets seam movement, but the batsmen play educatedly, working the ball around and hitting the bad balls.
Haddin jumps on to anything over pitched, playing a nice on drive for 3...

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and then punching a crisp back foot drive for 2 off Oram to bring up the 50:

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Symonds plays a dead bat at the good balls, which are bowled frequently, and crawls along at a slow scoring rate, but occasionally shows glimpses of attack, pulling Martin for 4 over mid wicket:

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Haddin, goes downtown on a few occasions, hitting Martin straight back over his head for a one bounce 4

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And then hits a similar shot off the next ball, this time along the ground.

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Symonds continues to play the defensive role, but plays a beautiful on drive off Oram for 4:

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In a daring move, Haddin walks down the pitch to Oram and clouts him for a huge six on the leg side:

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It's an audacious move, and states intent. Haddin and Symonds are clawing their way back into this game. Oram and Martin are bowling well, but these two Australians are up to the task.
Martin bowls the last over before lunch, and Symonds brings his score to 10, cutting him for 2 in front of point.

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So that brings the first session to a close, with the players and umpires breaking for lunch. NZ are on top after reducing their opposition to 37/5, although Symonds and Haddin are looking good, and definitely have a chance of seeing their side to a respectable total.


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Bill Lawry: A good effort from Haddin and Symonds to bat without giving away any chances after Australia's horror start. They were probably a bit worried when Ponting went, but Hussey's and Clarke's dismissals really made it a shocker for the Australians.

Mark Nicholas: Bond was amazing, he really devastated the top order, but Southee was every bit as good, moving the ball a lot, and really troubling his opponents. Oram has bowled well from the Stanley Street end, and Martin has bowled okay from the Vulture Street end, maybe a little short, but Haddin and Symonds have batted as they have needed to, with strong defence but positive flair. This next session will be an important one in the match, as it will help determine how big Australia's score will be, which will be a large factor as to how New Zealand's attitude and belief in themselves is for when they bat, and for the rest of the series. Join us after lunch for what promises to be a most exciting passage of play. Ian Chappell and Martin Crowe will take you through the first hour, with Mark Taylor, Tony Grieg, and Michael Slater to cover the rest of the session. Watch this space...


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Brilliant story you got going here mate. C04 is the best game out there and this shows it.

Australia looked in all sorts of trouble but a fine partnership between Symonds and Haddin has given them a chance of making somewhere near 200, which would be a good score on this green wicket.

Keep it up mate :)
 
wow some of those wickets look realistic! This is a top notch story and NZ have aus in all sorts of trouble. Although Haddin and Symonds now have a good partnership going and are looking to take the attack to the bowlers and are doing a good job of it! Lovely score card aswell mate!
 
Awesome story, as Jack said, you have got going here. Definitely deserves more comments.

The graphics and the writing are both fantastic and compliment the story very well. Australia didn't look like they were off to set a good score but some good batting from Haddin has brought their hopes up and if Symonds can stay in with him then they could orchestrate a run fest and help the Aussie innings on. New Zealand have done very well and have started perfectly. Bond and Southee opened the bowling for New Zealand exceedingly well and as long as the rest of the NZ bowlers can keep the runs down and get a few wickets, then it shouldn't be too hard to keep them unde 200. NZ are in control here, for definite.
 
Those graphics are sex for the eyes. Awesomeeeeee. Fantastic bowling by the Kiwi's. Southee and Bond are owning the batsmen. Haddin needs to get a good score for Aussies to savour anything.
 
I like the zinc on Symonds' lips :p

The tail are going to wag if these two don't get a good partnership going.
 
Nice read you got going here mate, good to see a Cricket 2004 story. What patches are you using?
 
This story is awesome, where did you get 2008/09 bats, no kits/pitchads? KUTGW.
 
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RB: Welcome back to the Gabba for the Afternoon session here on Day One of the 1st Test match in the 3 Mobile Trans-Tasman Trophy series between Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand won the toss and their decision to bowl first looks to have paid off on this very green Gabba strip, reducing their Trans-Tasman rivals to an amazing 37/5, courtesy of Shane Bond and Tim Southee, before Haddin and Symonds put on a neat 50 for the sixth wicket, with both batsmen still at the crease, looking to move forward from their current position at 87/5, and take their team near or over the 200 mark, which would be a reasonable score on this pitch. Now let's join Ian Chappell and Martin Crowe in the com box for the commence of play in the 2nd session...


IC: Thank you very much, Richie, and indeed the NZ opening bowlers doing a great job in knocking over the Australian top 5. However, Haddin and Symonds are looking to rebuild, with big Jacob Oram holding the still shiny Red ball, and Brad Haddin on strike.


Oram and Martin continue for 3 overs each, giving away only 8 runs from their six overs, but then in what turned out to be Oram's last over, Haddin let loose, smashing him for four back over his head:

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then edging a four wide of second slip, but he tops that by clobbering a six over mid on

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This brings up his fifty and his team's 100.

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It's been an entertaining fifty, off just 62 balls, and really has led his team's innings thus far. However, the job is anything but done yet, and Southee comes back to replace Martin at the Stanley Street End, and bowls a very tight maiden to Symonds, who is on 12 off 62 balls, incredibly patient for his usual self.

Vettori comes on to replace Oram at the Vulture Street End, and bowls well, nothing amazing, but in a tidy manner, although it really isn't going to be a very helpful pitch for him.
Meanwhile, Symonds finally gets going, and pulls Southee of the front foot for six over sqaure leg.

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This is more like the vintage Symonds that his home Queensland crowd has come here to see, and they respond warmly, cheering loudly and the first mexican wave for the day begins, but it is quickly brought to a stop by the security staff at the ground.
Symonds continues to look better and better, cutting two fours, and clipping the ball off his legs through mid wicket with ease. He is starting to make batting look easy again.
Haddin launches into his signature shot off Vettori, and is rewarded with a big six:

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but then shows he is not just a big hitter, delicately late cutting Vettori for 4 down to the vacant third man region.

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It is now 132/4, and Australia are now starting to draw even with the Black Caps in terms of who holds the advantage.
Southee continues to Symonds, and bowls a ball that appears to be going down the leg side, but straightens a little and raps Symonds on the pad as he trys to glance it on the on side. The Black Caps go up in a huge appeal, but after a long look umpire Steve Bucknor slowly shakes his head. After a quick glance at McCullum, Southee makes the sign for a referral, and for the first time in Australia, an appeal has been challenged.
Third umpire Mark Benson analyses the situation, and clearly sees that it was not a no ball by Southee, and that height was definitely not an issue. He then looks at the following, provided by hawkeye:

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He then tells Bucknor that the ball was more likely to hit the stumps than to miss them, and so he can see no reason not to give it out. Bucknor nods, and slowly makes the sign for a change of decision, and raises his finger.

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Symonds shakes his head and heads angrily back to the pavilion. He has some reason to be angry, as hawkeye said the ball would have just clipped leg stump, and hawkeye cannot know exactly what would have happened.

Brett Lee is the new batsman, with the score at 132/6.
The fall of Symonds' wicket does not deter Haddin, who continues to take the attack to Vettori, using his feet and stroking the ball beautifully back between Vettori and mid off for 4.

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Vettori isn't bowling badly, but the pitch isn't offering him much, and Haddin is using this to his advantage.
Southee bowls a maiden to Lee, giving nothing away and hitting the pitch hard. Lee is happy to watch the wide balls go past and block out the straight ones. Vettori also bowls a tidy channel, and gives away only one run off his next over, via a sweep from Haddin down to long leg, but there really isn't much turn from Vettori, even if his flight and variations are very good.

The pressure continues to build, as Southee bowls a great maiden to Haddin. It's like the pitch has come alive again, as he extracts seam and bounce that no one has got since the opening overs. Haddin tries hard but can't get anything away.

The pressure lifts slightly in Vettori's next over, as Haddin uses his feet and goes inside out over cover, and is rewarded with 4. He is starting to look right at home against Vettori on this unhelpful pitch.

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Oram replaces Southee a few overs later, and returns well, with just 2 runs coming from his over. He is hitting the pitch hard from his height and both batsmen find it difficult to get him away.

Vettori beats Haddin twice outside off stump and suddenly it has become a battle between these two. Haddin absolutely smashes a six over mid wicket...

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and proceeds to hit another four over mid off:

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He is really starting to dominate the New Zealanders, and plays a booming cover drive for 4 more off Oram, moving his score along to 78:

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But again, just as honours begin to draw even, Vettori gets his man, as Haddin tries to get too clever and paddle sweeps one on to his stumps.

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Vettori and Haddin have a brief confrontation and a few words are said, but nothing much comes of it, Haddin quickly making his way back to the changing rooms.

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It's now 151/7, and Mitchell Johnson is the new batsman.
He and Lee fight hard in a desperate bid to get their side over 200, but runs are hard to come by- they play out 3 maidens in a row, before Lee hits four 4s in one over off Oram, an edge over slips:

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a well timed on drive:

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and a beautifully played clip off the legs.

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However, it is Oram who has the last say, as he gets Lee caught behind for 14. It just seamed a little bit, and Lee played away from his body and got a little edge through to McCullum, who takes the catch nonchalantly.

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Hot spot clearly slows the deflection off Lee's bat, but there wasn't really ever any doubt:

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200 seems a long way away now, at 167/8, and the new batsman is Beau Casson, who is no slouch with a bat in hand.

Johnson plays out another maiden to Vettori, but Casson is more lively, upper cutting Oram for 4:

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then nicks a cut for 4 over the slips...

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but again, plays one shot too many and is brilliantly caught by Daniel Flynn at backward point.

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Casson lived dangerously and it didn't take long for Oram to get rid of him, playing to Casson's strength, which can also often be his weakness.

The last batsman in for Australia is Stuart Clark, who can also bat well, but with the score at 171/9, anything over 200 will be a good effort.

Vettori bowls yet another maiden to Johnson, who looks solid, and as though he could score runs on this pitch if he took a more attacking approach.

Daniel Flynn, after taking a stunning catch to get rid of Casson, drops a real sitter to let Clark off the hook in Oram's next over...

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Clark makes the most of the let off, cutting one over point.

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It's 4 runs, but it looks a lot like the way Casson played before he was dismissed playing a similar shot.

Vettori bowls- amazingly- another maiden to Johnson, and Oram also keeps it tight- the next 3 overs going for just 1 run- a leg glance from Johnson, getting him off the mark after 30 balls.

In the last over before the tea break, Clark cover drives a 4, actually a nice, flowing shot. Not bad for a number 11...

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and Johnson 'drop kicks' the last ball before tea over square leg for a boundary.

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It's 187/9 at Tea, and the New Zealanders walk off cheerfully but determinedly- they are in the box seat at the moment.


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MT: Well a good effort from Haddin and Symonds in the middle stages, but NZ are still in a very commanding position. If they sweep aside Johnson or Clark soon after Tea, they will feel as though the day has been theirs', as long as they don't lose more than say about 3 wickets in the session.

TG: It rather seems to me, that the Australians need to get something over the 200 mark and have the Black Caps at the end of the day about 60 or 70 for 4.

MS: Mmm it's going to be another cracking session, so join us again for the final session, of the day, and have the chance to enter some new exciting competitions.


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