We at Cricket360 may have predicted an Aussie victory in our cricket update yesterday, but even we hoped for a better and more spirited showing from the New Zealand team this morning, than an innings and 62 run out from the Aussies on the fourth day of the second test match. We hoped that the match would last 5 day at least.

If you were like the majority of viewers in the Indian subcontinent and tuned into the live cricket action of day three of the second test of the Trans Tasman Cup at the Adelaide Oval, chances are you caught the Kiwis crumbling quickly in the face of a veritable onslaught from Brett Lee.

The New Zealanders may not have caused any damage to their live scoreboard at stumps yesterday (they ended the day at 35 for no loss), but they seemed to have no resistance to an on-fire Brett Lee this morning who was chiefly instrumental in reducing the visitors to 83 for 5 by lunch time. This, for all practical purposes destroyed any chances that the visitors had of making a match of it. Lee may not exactly have shone when on tour to India, but he certainly seemed to be making up for lost time this morning when he cleaned out the New Zealand top order. Brett Lee caused the major amount of damage by ending the day with figures of 5 for a 105 (a 9 wicket haul in the match) and thereby ensured that the visitors did not have a prayer.

The one man who showed some backbone and stood up to the Australian onslaught was Brendon McCullum. He was the last man standing and also the highest scorer for the visitors in their second innings with his 84 not out. The doughty Iain O’Brien also showed some determination in hanging around to help McCullum. He earned the dubious distinction of facing 38 balls and remaining on the pitch for 54 minutes without scoring a single run, however Lee put paid to any batting ambitions he may have nursed by catching him leg before.

In the end the visitors suffered a humiliating innings and 62 runs defeat at the hands of the Aussies, who certainly seemed a resurgent lot in this series after their forgettable series in India, where the cricket news was not exactly good for the Aussies.  Michael Clarke was declared man of the series and Brad Haddin was man of the match.

We at Cricket360.com hope that the New Zealanders enjoy a better fate on their upcoming tour to the West Indies.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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