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AUS win 3 - 0 AUS gains 9 points; NZ loses 9 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 NZ gains 13 points; AUS loses 13 points
NZ win 3 - 0 NZ gains 36 points; AUS loses 36 points
Christchurch
10 - 13 March 2005
Australia won the toss and elected to field first.� Australia missed an opportunity to catch Fleming when he had scored five runs.� There after, New Zealand scored slowly until Australia eventually trapping Fleming (18) in front at 1 for 56 late in the session.� By lunch, New Zealand was 1 for 64 at 2.2 runs per over.� Australia struggled through the afternoon session while New Zealand added another 97 runs.� Australia's only breakthrough came on the stroke of tea when Cumming (74) was caught, with the score 2 for 153.� During the evening session, New Zealand continued to frustrate the Australian attack.� Despite losing Vincent (27) half way through the session, Marshall posted his maiden Test century in his third Test, while New Zealand ended the day comfortably placed at 3 for 265.
New Zealand continued to build a solid position on the second morning, adding 97 more runs for the loss of only Marshall (146) and McMillan (13) in the hour before lunch.� At lunch, New Zealand was 5 for 362.� However, McGrath, who had dismissed McMillan, finally started to bring Australia back into the match after lunch.� McGrath dismissed Astle (74), McMullum (29), Franklin (0), O'Brien (5) and Martin (1) to finish with 6 for 115 off 42 overs.� New Zealand was all out for 433 runs.� Australia began their reply solidly and batted through to tea to be no wicket for 35 runs.� New Zealand piled on the pressure during the final session and succeeded in dismissing Langer (23), Hayden (35) and then in the penultimate over of the day trapped Martyn (32).� At stumps, Australia was in some difficulty at 3 for 141, still 292 runs in arrears.
New Zealand pulled further ahead on the third morning after catching Ponting (46) in the fifth over of the day and then Clarke (8) three overs later to have Australia 5 for 160.� Nightwatchman Gillespie (12) was eventually caught at 6 for 201, but by then any chance of enforcing a follow on had evaporated.� At lunch, Australia was in a poor position at 6 for 221, still 213 runs in arrears.� However, the momentum of the match then swung as Gilchrist and Katich took control.� Batting through the session, the Australians smashed 133 runs and after Katich posted his second Test century, Australia was 6 for 354 at tea, having narrowed the New Zealand lead to just 79 runs.� After posting his 14th Test century, New Zealand eventually caught Gilchrist (121) on the boundary at 7 for 413 and then Katich (118) followed five runs later.� New Zealand then mopped up Warne (2) and McGrath (0) to have Australia all out for 432 runs.� Vettori was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 106 off 40.2 overs, his 12th Test five-wicket innings.� With only six overs until stumps, New Zealand added another nine runs without loss to their one run first innings lead.
New Zealand began the fourth morning needing to occupy the crease and post a total that would try the patience of the Australians on the final day.� Unfortunately, New Zealand began badly, losing Fleming (17), Cumming (7) and Vincent (4) in the first hour and the space of 14 runs to be 3 for 34.� New Zealand then staged a brief recovery and took the total to 71 before Astle (21) and McMillan (5) fell just before going to lunch at 5 for 78.� Marshall (22) was out straight after lunch at 6 for 87, before a further period of consolidation saw the total move to 121 runs.� The innings then fell into disarray when Australia trapped LBW McCullum (24), Vettori (23), O'Brien (0) and Martin (0) in five overs to have New Zealand all out for 131 runs and an overall lead of 132 runs.� Warne was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 39 off 14 overs, his 29th five-wicket haul.� Australia began their final innings victory chase and Vettori had Hayden (15) caught on the stroke of tea at 1 for 25.� New Zealand was unable to make any further inroads and Australia went on to win the Test by nine wickets with Langer (72*) and Ponting (47*) the not out batsmen.
Second Test
Wellington
18 - 22 March 2005
Rain and fog prevented any play on the first day. New Zealand won the toss on the second morning and elected to field first. Australia battled through the morning session, scoring at an unusually slow 2.5 runs per over before Langer (46) was caught behind late in the session at 1 for 82. At lunch, Australia was 1 for 91. New Zealand dismissed Ponting (9) and Hayden (61) during the afternoon session to have Australia 3 for 146. Soon after tea, when Clarke (8) was caught at 4 for 163, New Zealand had the opportunity to take the advantage. However, Australia rallied and took the total to 247 before Katich (35) was caught behind. There after, Martyn, who went on to post his 12th Test century, and Gilchrist combined to bat through to stumps when the score was 5 for 337.
Rain delayed the start on the third morning, allowing only 14 overs before lunch. Australia made the best of it, adding 90 runs without losing a wicket while Gilchrist, scoring at better than a run per ball, ensured the small crowd had its share of catching practice. Gilchrist posted his 15th Test century after lunch and with Martyn added 256 runs for the sixth wicket before Martyn (165) fell for a career highest innings at 6 for 503.� Gilchrist (162) was then caught and bowled at 7 for 557 with Gillespie (2) following two runs later.� Upon Warne (50*) posting his half-century, Australia declared at 8 for 570.� Franklin was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 128 off 28 overs.� New Zealand faced a difficult task in seeking 421 runs to avoid following on and Australia made it harder for them by trapping Fleming (0) at 1 for 9.� Australia went on to dismiss Marshall (18), Cumming (37) and Astle (9) before New Zealand ended the day in a very poor position at 4 for 122.
Rain again interfered on the fourth day, preventing play before lunch.� When play resumed, New Zealand managed to take the total to 166 before the dismissal of Franklin (26) triggered a collapse.� Australia dismissed Vincent (63), McCullum (3), McMillan (20), O'Brien (5) and Vettori (45) to have New Zealand all out for 244 runs.� The bowling honours were shared by Kasprowicz (3 for 42 off 16 overs) and Warne (3 for 69 off 28.1 overs).� Tea was then taken and bad light and rain Prevented any further play before stumps.
After yet another rain delay, New Zealand began their second innings and lost Fleming (1) and Marshall (0) to be 2 for 4 in the third over.� New Zealand then recovered and batted for a further eleven overs before going to lunch at 2 for 37.� Australia struck again after lunch, bowling Vincent (24) at 3 for 37.� However, the rain again blew in and play was suspended with the score 3 for 48.� Play was unable to resume and a draw was subsequently declared.
Third Test
Auckland
26 - 30 March 2005
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first.� After early wobbles with Cumming (5) and James Marshall (29) falling to be 2 for 53, New Zealand fought back through the remainder of the morning session.� Australia struggled to take any wickets during the afternoon session.� However, New Zealand equally struggled to score runs, with the run rate barely over two runs per over.� After taking the total to 179, New Zealand suffered a mini collapse, losing Hamish Marshall (76), Fleming (65) and Vincent (2) in the space of 15 runs to be 5 for 194.� At stumps, New Zealand was precariously placed at 5 for 199.
Australia tore through the remaining New Zealand batsmen on the second morning.� The Australians dismissed Astle (19), McCullum (25), Franklin (3), Wiseman (8) and Martin (0) to have New Zealand all out for 292 runs, having lost 5 for 64.� McGrath (3 for 49 off 34 overs with 20 maidens) and Warne (3 for 63 off 23 overs) shared the bowling honours.� Lunch was taken between innings.� Australia began their reply by losing Langer (6) at 1 for 8.� However, from there, Australia rollicked along at over five runs per over until Hayden (38) fell at 2 for 84.� By tea, the scoring rate had eased slightly with the score 2 for 143 and half the deficit erased.� Ponting (105) posted his 22nd Test century during the evening session before being caught behind at 3 for 187.� New Zealand then bowled Martyn (38) late in the session and when play ended the score was 5 for 219, with Australia only 73 runs in arrears.
Australia continued more slowly on the third morning as the pitch started to assist the bowlers. New Zealand ran out Clarke (22) in the sixth over before Australia consolidated and batted through to be 5 for 293 at lunch with a one run lead. Rain delayed the start of play for 20 minutes and then New Zealand gathered momentum and dismissed Gillespie (35), Katich (35) and Warne (1) in the space of six runs to have Australia 8 for 303. After another rain delay, Australia began to pull away thanks mainly to Gilchrist and at tea, Australia was 8 for 361. New Zealand bowled Kasprowicz (23) and caught McGrath (0) to have Australia all out for 383 runs. Gilchrist was stranded on 60 not out from 62 balls while Franklin was the best of the bowlers with 6 for 119 off 26.1 overs, his second five-wicket haul in Tests. New Zealand began the task of erasing the 91 run first innings deficit badly, with Cumming (0) trapped in front on the second ball of the innings and James Marshall (3) caught in the cordon to see the home side 2 for 9. When bad light stopped play, New Zealand were in deep trouble at 2 for 11.
New Zealand began the fourth day badly after Fleming (3) and Hamish Marshall (7) were both caught and the score was suddenly 4 for 23. However, the home side then consolidated and took the total to 93 before both Vincent (40) and McCullum (0) were out in consecutive overs for New Zealand to be 6 for 93. Another period of consolidation followed and New Zealand finally retook the lead before Astle (69) was out at 7 for 174. However, Australia was gaining the upper hand and after Franklin (23), Vettori (65) and Wiseman (23) were dismissed, New Zealand was all out for 254, with an overall lead of 163 runs. McGrath (4 for 40 off 16.2 overs) and Warne (4 for 77 off 23 overs) shared the bowling honours. Australia lost Hayden (9) in a run out on the way to a nine-wicket victory with Langer (59*) and Ponting (82*) the not out batsmen.
