Gillespie knocks over Kiwi top order

Heavy rain and bad light forced play to be called off on day four of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand. At the end of play, New Zealand were 186/5 (57 ovs), with Nathan Astle, 51 and Chris Cairns, 25 holding fort.

Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie captured three quick wickets as New Zealand's top order collapsed on Sunday.

Paceman Brett Lee also picked up an early wicket as the Kiwis slumped to 55 for four before Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan steadied the innings to reach 115-4 at lunch.

Soon after lunch Brett Lee broke the 92 runs partnership between Astle and McMillan as he picked up McMillan on 45, a spectacular catch by Ricky Ponting.

New Zealand started the fourth day at 29-0, needing to make at least 287 to avoid the follow-on, but lost 4 wickets while adding only 19 runs in the first hour and a half.

The Kiwis suffered an immediate blow when opener Matthew Bell was dismissed on the sixth ball of the morning.

Bell failed to add to his overnight score of six when Gillespie found the edge and Ricky Ponting took the catch at third slip.

Mark Richardson and Mathew Sinclair defended grimly for almost an hour before Gillespie struck again, trapping Richardson lbw for 26 with an off cutter.

Gillespie was on a hat-trick after he dismissed New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, caught behind by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, for a duck with his next ball.

Gillespie missed his hat-trick but Lee chipped in to get Sinclair for three, caught by a diving Ponting at point, off his first ball.

Astle, who scored a double century against Queensland at the Gabba a week before the test, shared in an unbroken stand of 60 with McMillan that spanned 80 minutes.

Detailed Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor