Gilchrist and Martin blast Australia into control

Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn blasted Australia into an unbeatable position in the rain-affected second cricket Test against New Zealand here Sunday with twin centuries in a masterful 256-run sixth wicket partnership. New Zealand were left clinging to the hope they can bat out the final two days to save the match and at stumps on the third day were 122 for four in their first innings replying to Australia's 570 for eight declared.
All the New Zealand bowlers suffered at the bats of Gilchrist and Martyn, and Shane Warne followed with a rapid half-century before Ricky Ponting put New Zealand out of their misery with the declaration just before tea.
Australia then bagged the plum wicket of New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming off the first ball he faced, and Hamish Marshall, Craig Cumming and Nathan Astle followed after tea as the home side struggled to stay in the game.
After the first day was lost to rain, as was the first hour of the third morning, Australia took a stranglehold on the Test with the inspired batting of Martyn, whose 165 was his highest Test score, while Gilchrist smashed an 86-ball hundred on the way to 162.
Martyn surpassed his previous best 161 rather shakily when he edged the unlucky Chris Martin just past the outstretched glove of Brendon McCullum and down to the boundary for four.
SCOREBOARD
AUSTRALIA (1st innings):

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J. Langer c McCullum b Vettori      46

M. Hayden c Vincent b Franklin      61

R. Ponting lbw v Vettori             9

D. Martyn c McCullum b O'Brien     165

M. Clarke c Fleming b Astle          8

S. Katich c McCullum b Franklin     35

A. Gilchrist c and b Franklin      162

S. Warne not out                    50

J. Gillespie b Franklin              2

M. Kasprowicz not out                2

EXTRAS: (B-4, LB-8, W-2, NB-16)     30

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TOTAL: (for 8 wkts dec)            570

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FALL OF WICKETS: 1-82, 2-100, 3-146, 4-163, 5-247, 6-503, 7-557, 8-559
BOWLING: Martin 28-6-123-0 (6nb), Franklin 28-4-128-4 (10nb, 2w), O'Brien 24-4-97-1, Vettori 47-5-170-2, Astle 13-2-40-1
NEW ZEALAND (1st innings):

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C. Cumming b Kasprowicz             37

S. Fleming lbw McGrath               0

H. Marshall c Gillespie b McGrath   18

L. Vincent not out                  38

N. Astle c Warne b Clarke            9

J. Franklin not out                  6

EXTRAS: (B-3, LB-7, W-1, NB-3)      14

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TOTAL: (for 4 wkts)                122

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