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Lights out for NZ as Gilchrist shines bright

Source: stuff.co.nz - March 28, 2005

A fuming New Zealand cricket team received some sympathy from their biggest nemesis, Adam Gilchrist, after he and the Eden Park gloom combined to slam them against the ropes in the third test here today.

Gilchrist, who cracked another heartbreaking innings of 60 not out off 62 balls, called for the rules for playing tests under floodlights to be reviewed as New Zealand slumped to 11 for two in their second innings late on the third day.

It left them trailing overall by 80 with two days left after Gilchrist lifted Australia to 383 and a first innings lead of 91.

Umpires Rudi Koertzen and Jeremy Lloyds finally responded to an exasperated New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming's pleas and called an early end at 6pm (local time), but not after Craig Cumming and James Marshall had been removed by Glenn McGrath, who moved to 497 test wickets.

No one from the New Zealand team was commenting but privately they were annoyed the umpires sent them back out under the floodlights at 5.45pm, enough time for James Marshall to edge a catch to third slip on three after Craig Cumming was trapped leg before wicket to the second ball of the innings.

"It is difficult batting in artificial light with a red ball but it's a horrible task for umpires to make judgment, particularly if they're going by light meters," Gilchrist said.

"I can understand why the New Zealand team are feeling disappointed and frustrated at that."

Gilchrist said Australian captain Ricky Ponting "felt strongly" that the batting team should get the option of carrying on under floodlights, as New Zealand did here three years ago when Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan hit out in near darkness to set up a test win over England.

Fleming now holds the balance of the test in his hands early tomorrow, with New Zealand needing to bat at least to the end of the fourth day to stay in the match.

Making New Zealand's chances even slimmer is the fitness of star spinner Daniel Vettori, who bowled just seven wicketless overs today and looks to be struggling again with back soreness.

"It was a tough session tonight but it's the umpires' call on the light. It was disappointing to lose two wickets but we've got a new day tomorrow to bat on and hopefully post a score that is defendable," said paceman James Franklin, who took career-best figures of six for 119 in just his ninth test.

On a day of four seasons when there were five stoppages for rain or bad light, Gilchrist again proved the difference between the sides as Franklin led a New Zealand fightback.

Gilchrist now has 343 runs for the series at an average of 171.50, and 923 career runs against New Zealand at 76.91.

He moved past Zimbabwe's Andy Flower's run tally of 4404 into second on the list of wicketkeeping runscorers, now just 88 behind former England gloveman Alec Stewart's 4540.

It looked like Gilchrist would run out of partners when he strode to the crease at 297 for six, then Franklin quickly removed Simon Katich for 35 and Shane Warne for one in the space of eight deliveries with the second new ball.

James Marshall started the middle order staggers with a brilliant side-on run out of Michael Clarke for 22 in today's sixth over.

Ironically, Michael Kasprowicz, the only Australian batsman without a test 50, hung around 68 minutes for 23 as the pair put on an Australian ninth wicket record stand against New Zealand of 71. That beat Ian Healy and Craig McDermott's 69 in Perth in 1993-94.

This time Gilchrist had luck, edging Chris Martin wide of slip for four off his second ball, and twice more edging wide of the cordon.

But Franklin then began to offer some width and all the powerful offside shots came out as Gilchrist hit nine fours and lofted offspinner Paul Wiseman into the South Stand for his 80th test six.

Franklin finally broke the stand when he clipped Kasprowicz's leg stump, then snared McGrath second ball when replays showed he was incorrectly given out caught behind by Koertzen.

It only fired up the great fast bowler to take two early wickets and sit just short of becoming the fourth bowler to 500 wickets tomorrow.

- MARK GEENTY