Cricket: Rain frustrates Australians

Rain could ruin Australia's hopes of recording a series clean sweep against New Zealand after play was ended prematurely on the third day of the third and final Test in Hobart yesterday.

With two days left, New Zealand were 15 without loss in their first innings in reply to Australia's 400 when play was abandoned. Australia have already clinched the series following big wins in the Brisbane and Perth Tests. Earlier, the Australians resumed at 273 for 5 and accelerated their scoring tempo.

Mark Waugh led the Australian run onslaught with 81, while most of the tail-enders contributed quick double-figure scores. As Waugh held up one end, Ian Healy (16), Paul Reiffel (19), Shane Warne (14) and Michael Kasprowicz (20) all played aggressively.

By lunch, Australia were 396 for 8, easily their most productive session of the match. But it was soon all over following the resumption.

After Kasprowicz brought up the 400 with a boundary off Chris Cairns, Waugh tickled one down the leg-side off Shane O'Connor and was caught by the wicketkeeper Adam Parore. Without adding to the score, Kasprowicz lifted a drive off Cairns and was caught by Simon Doull at mid-on for 20. Doull and O'Connor each took three wickets for New Zealand.

Australia - First Innings

(Overnight 273-5)

M E Waugh c Parore b O'Connor 81

I A Healy c Young b O'Connor 16

P R Reiffel c Young b Doull 19

S R Warne st Parore b Vettori 14

M S Kasprowicz c Doull b Cairns 20

S H Cook not out 0

Extras (6lb, 1nb, 1w) 8

Total (141.1 overs; 550mins) 400

Fall: 6-291, 7-326, 8-353, 9-400.

Bowling: Doull 33-11-87-3, O'Connor 34-7-101-3 (1w), Cairns 35.1-13-86- 2 (1nb), Astle 12-5-32-0, McMillan 15-4-43-1, Vettori 12-1-45-1.

New Zealand - First Innings

B A Young not out 11

M J Horne not out 2

Extras (2nb) 2

Total (for 0) 15

To bat: A Parore, *S P Fleming, R G Twose, C D McMillan, N J Astle, C L Cairns, D L Vettori, S B Doull and S B O'Connor.

Bowling: Kasprowicz 3.1-0-7-0 (2nb), Reiffel 3-2-8-0.