Agence France Presse

Wellington, March 20:

Damien Martyn scored 165 and Adam Gilchrist 162 as Australia declared its first innings at 570-8 on Sunday to take overwhelming control of the second cricket Test against New Zealand. They put on 256 in little more than three hours in Australia’s largest sixth-wicket partnership against New Zealand. At stumps, New Zealand was battling at 122-4, trailing by 448 runs and needing to reach 420 to avoid follow on. Martyn batted five hours, 49 minutes for his highest Test score, hitting 24 sixes in an innings around which Australia’s massive total was built. Martyn resumed at 106 and Gilchrist at 45 as the pair resumed their assault with unbroken momentum. Gilchrist had been relaxing at team hotel when umpires made a surprising decision to start play early after overnight rain. He dashed to the ground and sprinted to half century in 75 minutes from 57 balls.

Gilchrist went on to his 15th Test century from 86 balls with 14 fours and four sixes, moving from 50 to 100 in only 29 deliveries. Gilchrist put on a further 54 with Shane Warne before hitting a meek return catch to Franklin. Warne reached his half century in 49 minutes before the declaration. Australia then worked its way through New Zealand’s top order. Skipper Stephen Fleming was out lbw to the first ball he faced. Marshall (18) and Craig Cumming (37) were out to carefully set traps. Clarke dismissed Nathan Astle (9) in his first over and in the shadow of stumps, caught by Warne.