Agence France Presse

Auckland, March 28:

A feisty half-century from Adam Gilchrist and two quick wickets from a fired-up Glenn McGrath gave Australia a stranglehold over New Zealand at stumps on the third day of the third cricket Test here on Monday. A typical Gilchrist assault carried Australia to 383 in their first innings, a lead of 91. Then McGrath had New Zealand on 11 for two in their second innings, still trailing by 80 runs and with openers Craig Cumming and James Marshall back in the pavilion. A stop-start day with four stoppages for rain and bad light failed to deter an Australian side determined to ram home their dominance after winning the first Test inside four days and being denied by rain from taking the second. Gilchrist, the modern day master-blaster, continued his summer assault on New Zealand’s bowlers and was unbeaten on 60 from 62 balls when Australia’s first innings ended.

The onslaught included 10 fours and a six, and shattered New Zealand when they thought they had a chance of getting back in the game after capturing three wickets within the space of six runs with the new ball. As he warmed to his counter-attack Gilchrist gave early chances,

twice edging Chris Martin just wide of the slips cordon before he had reached double figures. But he then settled down with three chanceless boundaries in one over off James Franklin.

He shared a 74-run partnership with Michael Kasprowicz for the ninth wicket in which Kasprowicz contributed 23.

Australia had reached 297 for five, for a five-run lead on the first innings, when Martin revived New Zealand’s fortunes with the dismissal of Jason Gillespie. Left-armer Franklin then captured the wickets of Simon Katich and Shane Warne in the space of five balls and Australia

were 303 for eight. Gillespie had proved a more than useful nightwatchman as he and Katich added 71 for the sixth wicket before Gillespie was caught behind for 35. Franklin had Katich caught at mid-on for 35 and Warne caught at first slip for one, before eventually polishing off the innings by bowling Kasprowicz and then dismissing McGrath without scoring. With his second ball McGrath had Craig Cumming leg before wicket without scoring and with the first ball of his third over he tempted Test debutant James Marshall to edge the ball straight to Justin Langer at third slip. Four balls later the umpires ended play half an hour early because of bad light, to the relief of Hamish Marshall on three and Stephen Fleming on one.