History awaits gallant Kiwis

New Zealand are poised for a famous victory over their world champion trans-Tasman rivals after outplaying Australia for the fourth successive day of the deciding third Test. With the series locked at 0-0, New Zealand require eight wickets on the final day to inflict a rare home defeat on Australia and claim just their second series win on Australian soil.

Both teams can create history but Australia’s task is considerably more difficult, chasing what would be a world record target of 440 in the second innings. The equation is down to 371 from 90 overs with eight wickets in hand after New Zealand removed Langer and Ponting in the last 17 overs, leaving Australia 69 for 2 after the Kiwis had earlier declared at 256 for 9.

Australia would have started the fourth day with the aim to skittle New Zealand in two sessions or, failing that, to restrict runs and make NZ bat longer, thus leaving as little time as possible to bat themselves. They did not realise either objective.

Debutant Lou Vincent made light work of the best Australia could throw at him for the second time in the match, as he and Richardson showed early that NZ were not going to let Australia gain any kind of control easily. McGrath and Gillespie were somewhat taken aback by the positive, purposeful approach, as the quick singles and confident play was not what they were accustomed to at the start of an innings.

Vincent proved what a talented discovery New Zealand had made with another highly accomplished display. The untroubled shot selection and fluent execution stood out, as he was not unduly bothered by McGrath and Gillespie. When Warne came on with the need to make something happen, Vincent greeted him by cracking a four through cover.

Even considering New Zealand’s position of well established superiority in the match, it was shocking for the Australians that their initial assault gave no indication of succeeding. Vincent raised his fifty off 52 balls by driving Warne straight past mid on, an innings of uncomplicated shot-making prowess that drew applause from Steve Waugh. One wondered how instructive his approach was for the South Africans, who arrived at the ground during the session for practice.

Vincent fell for 54 after giving New Zealand a bright platform of 77/0, ensuring they would remain in charge of the way the eventual target was set. He was caught by Mark Waugh in the gully driving Lee square on the up, the ball a little too short for the shot. It was his only mistake.

Warne began to put the clamps on after that, generating drift and sharp turn to Matthew Sinclair. It was hardly a significant impediment to New Zealand’s progress, though, as the Kiwis went to lunch at 88/1, a lead of 271. The Australians were still searching for answers to how to combat a rare hammering at home.

Australia had to readjust their goals after the break, adopting a more defensive approach with just one slip. Sinclair reacted to the pressure Warne exerted on him by running out his partner, calling for a non-existent single to point that saw Steve Waugh’s throw to Gilchrist easily catch Richardson out. He made 30, with NZ 90/2.

New Zealand made their intentions clear by promoting the big-hitting Cairns to No. 4, another demonstration of skipper Stephen Fleming’s attacking leadership qualities. Cairns soon broke the shackles as the Kiwis, dictating the game, sought runs at a quick rate ahead of a declaration. Cairns struck McGrath back over his head for six and Sinclair, struggling against Warne, also lofted the leg-spinner over the boundary.

Sinclair departed for an undistinguished 29, caught behind off McGrath to give the paceman a rare wicket in a surprisingly barren series. McGrath’s difficulties have been symbolic of Australia’s, not appearing to be doing anything differently but lacking a typically sharp edge. Sinclair pushed forward in defence before moving his feet, the slight away movement taking the edge to make New Zealand 128/3.

Fleming himself indicated that New Zealand wanted to increase the scoring rate, dropped by Mark Waugh in the gully as he drove at McGrath before being bowled by Warne skipping down the wicket. Warne was a frustrated figure, appearing to feel that he was bowling well enough to get wickets but that he was not finding the edges. It could have been that he lacked consistent zip off the pitch, but that was not the case against Fleming, turning it between bat and as the Black Caps skipper advanced to make NZ 151/4.

There was no concerted effort to hit out by Cairns and Astle, as they instead collected the runs that were available by the field. New Zealand added 111 for the session to be 199/4 at tea, an overall lead of 382. The question to be answered was how many New Zealand wanted to set Australia and how many overs they wanted to allow to get them, as the usual record run chases were brought up. The highest successful run chase at the WACA was 8/342, with the next best just 236, but against an attacking side which achieved the third-highest target ever two seasons ago, it did not pay to be too generous.

Knowing New Zealand could not be prevented from setting a target of their choice, Australia went on the defensive, and it brought the wickets of Cairns and Astle. Cairns sliced Lee to Warne at third man attempting a big shot and Astle pulled Gillespie to Langer at deep square, making NZ 208/6 and providing Australia with a possible opportunity to bowl them out.

Waugh declined to attack so McMillan and Parore traded in singles, leading to lacklustre cricket as both sides went through the motions. Australia only wanted to bowl dot balls and New Zealand were chiefly interested in using up overs rather than piling on runs, making for a dull spectacle. Brett Lee even bowled one over consisting entirely of bouncers to McMillan, who ducked every one. Strangely, he was not no-balled.

McMillan eventually got sick of it, stepping away and getting a top-edge as he swung wildly across the line to a short ball from Gillespie. Warne had to run back from deep mid on and did superbly to hold the skied catch as the he tumbled backwards.

Lee persisted with bouncers to Vettori until he too succumbed, stepping away and slashing a cut over point for Steve Waugh to turn and sprint back from gully to hold a diving catch. New Zealand declared after Lee bowled Bond, his finger-pointing send-off the kind of celebration which incurred the wrath of match referees even in friendlier times. If Jackie Hendriks overlooks it, it will be the second time Australia has been let off in the match.

New Zealand’s declaration was primarily about the total overs remaining, with Australia given 117 to chase the 440 target at a required rate of 4.11. Way behind the over rate again, Australia still had 17 overs to face and lost the valuable wickets of Langer and Ponting.

Chris Cairns's poor bowling form got him demoted, as Fleming entrusted the new ball to his inexperienced but in-form seamers Bond and Martin. Bond struck in his second over, having the Aussies' most in-form batsman, Langer, smartly caught by Vettori at third slip for a duck to leave the hosts reeling at 1/1. The ball started out straight so Langer had to play, but late swing took it away from the left-hander and enticed him to reach for it slightly away from his body. Without quite getting forward, the edge went low to Vettori’s left and the home side had lost a batsman capable of staying for a long period.

Ponting began in customarily affirmative fashion but was careful to eschew the kind of loose shot outside off that caused his demise in the first dig. Vettori was introduced in the 10th over but it was not until Cairns came on in the 13th that New Zealand struck again, bowling Ponting for 26.

To a ball short of good length, Ponting moved across his crease to defend but never got back in position in time, edging the ball onto the stumps from an angled defensive blade. In fine form, he had seemed primed for a bigger innings until the lapse, leaving Australia 52/2.

Hayden and Mark Waugh saw off the remaining overs, with one or both likely required for a long innings if they are to see off New Zealand. History awaits but it favours the visitors.