Australia Close Penultimate Day Five Wickets From Win

Australia Close Penultimate Day Five Wickets From Win

Mitchell Johnson grabbed three wickets to put Australia in a commanding position.

©Action Images (file photo)

Australia 231 & 511-8 dec. (Katich 106, North 90) v
New Zealand 264 (Taylor 138) & 185-5 (Johnson 3-39)
Second Test, Seddon Park, Hamilton, day four
Scorecard

Australia will go into the final day of the second and final Test against New Zealand in Hamilton needing five wickets for victory after they reduced their hosts to 185 for five chasing 479 to win the game.

Resuming on 333 for four in their second innings, Australia continued to frustrate the New Zealand bowlers with Marcus North making his way to 90 and MIchael Clarke to 63 before their 142-run stand for the fifth wicket was broken.

Brad Haddin blasted 48 in 40 balls and Nathan Hauritz was unbeaten on 41 before Australia declared their innings 478 runs ahead.

Spinners Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel got through 48 and 39 overs between them, taking three wickets. Brent Arnel finished with three for 77.

The seven New Zealanders who then batted all reached double figures but none could stay at the crease for long enough. Mathew Sinclair made 29 in 81 balls and Martin Guptill was unbeaten on 29 in 82 balls but Australia held sway with the ball, just as they had with the bat.

Mitchell Johnson made for his golden duck earlier in the day by dismissing BJ Watling (24), Tim McIntosh (19) and first-innings centurion Ross Taylor (22). He finished the day with three for 39 and there was a wicket apiece for Clarke and Hauritz.

Also unbeaten at stumps was Brendon McCullum, on 19.

Australia won the opening Test in Wellington by ten wickets.

© Cricket World 2010

Breaking news, score updates and interviews on Cricket World Live Radio, get the latest from Cricket World® with Facebook, twitter and YouTube, keep up with the action with the latest cricket TV highlights and interviews, enter our fantasy cricket competition and win some great prizes or play some fantastic cricket games.