Gilchrist preserves Australia record
New Zealand 534-9 dec & 256-9 Australia 351 & 381-7 Match drawn
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Your support makes all the difference.Australia struggled, but in the end managed to hold on for a draw in the final Test of their three-Test series with New Zealand, ending yesterday's final day here at the WACA on 381 for 7.
Chasing a Test record 440 for victory, Australia were grateful for two controversial not-out decisions by umpire Ian Robinson, when Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie appeared to have been caught behind.
Adam Gilchrist flirted with a run chase, taking 18 off a Daniel Vettori over as he raced to an unbeaten 83, including 12 fours and two sixes. But the run-outs of Waugh for 67 and then Shane Warne forced Australia to play it safe and Gilchrist dug in with Gillespie to deny New Zealand a historic win and leave the series at 0-0. The first two Tests in Brisbane and Hobart were rain-affected draws, though New Zealand came close to pinching a victory at the Gabba after a generous declaration.
"I'm disappointed we didn't win it, to tell you the truth," the Australia captain Steve Waugh said. "We changed our minds a few times throughout the day. It was a tough situation because we were always on the brink, if we lost one more wicket we were in trouble with the new ball."
To have attempted a shot at a world record target yesterday indicates the measure of an Australian side who went 23 Tests without a draw and in the end defended a proud home record. The 1993-93 West Indies tourists were the last side to win a series in Australia.
Final day; New Zealand won toss
NEW ZEALAND – First Innings 534 for 9 dec (N J Astle 156 no, A C Parore 110, S P Fleming 105, L Vincent 104; B Lee 4-125).
AUSTRALIA – First Innings 351 (S K Warne 99, J L Langer 75, D R Martyn 60; D L Vettori 6-87).
NEW ZEALAND – Second Innings 256 for 9 dec (L Vincent 54; B Lee 4-56).
AUSTRALIA – Second Innings
(Overnight: 69-2)
M L Hayden c Sinclair b Vettori 57
M E Waugh b McMillan 86
*S R Waugh run out 67
D R Martyn b Vettori 30
ÝA C Gilchrist not out 83
S K Warne run out 10
J N Gillespie not out 1
Extras (lb3 w2 nb16) 21
Total (for 7, 110 overs) 381
Fall (cont): 3-130 4-195 5-244 6-339 7-355.
Did not bat: B Lee, G D McGrath.
Bowling: Bond 21-3-80-1 (nb2); Martin 12-0-51-0 (w2, nb2); Vettori 45-11-142-2 (nb10); Cairns 15-2-72-1 (nb2); Astle 12-5-18-0; McMillan 5-2-15-1.
MATCH DRAWN AND SERIES DRAWN 0-0
Umpires: D B Hair and I D Robinson (Zim).
* Australia's Brett Lee has been fined 75 per cent, of his match fee, approximately £3,000, after being found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council's code of conduct. The fast bowler was charged following comments he made to New Zealand Shane Bond during Monday's play in the third Test in Perth.
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