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Ton-up Martyn puts Aussies in Control

Source: SportingLife - 19 March, 2005

An unbeaten ton from Damien Martyn and a half-century from Matthew Hayden handed Australia the initiative in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

It was not one of Martyn's most fluid innings but it was a vital one as he swung the match his side's way as they finished the second day on 337 for five.

At stumps Martyn was unbeaten on 106 with Adam Gilchrist 45 not out.

The morning session certainly belonged to Australia after they had been put in by Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming.

Openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden added 82 runs for the first wicket as the visitors reached 91 for one at lunch.

But after the interval the momentum was with the Black Caps as they grabbed three quick wickets, including the prized one of Hayden's, for the loss of just 83 runs as Australia reached 174 for four at tea.

But some superb strokeplay from Martyn, who had scratched around for 24 runs by tea, saw him take full advantage of some loose bowling with the new ball as he brought up his century in style with a boundary off Iain O'Brien.

With the first day washed out without a ball being bowled, Australia were keen to make up for lost time.

But Langer and Hayden were forced to scratch around for runs early on as Chris Martin got the ball to swing and Daniel Vettori had the pair pinned to the crease.

Langer, who saw Fleming drop him in the slips when he was on nought, was just four short of a half-century when he gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum to become Vettori's 50th Test victim against Australia.

It was the only wicket to fall in the morning session but after the break it was a different story as Vettori struck again to trap Ricky Ponting (nine) leg before and James Franklin made amends for his horror start to take the vital wicket of Hayden.

The Australian opener, who had managed just 23 runs in the morning, brought up his half-century with a boundary off Vettori but could only manage another 10 runs before he was caught by Lou Vincent.

Michael Clarke (eight) was the next to fall, edging to Fleming off the part-time bowling of Nathan Astle, never looking comfortable in his 32-ball stay at the crease.

As the wickets tumbled at the other end Martyn retained his composure and it was his 84-run partnership with Simon Katich for the fifth wicket and a 90-run stand with Gilchrist that finally put the pressure on the Black Caps.

The final session of the day produced 163 runs for the visitors with only Katich (35) sent back to the pavilion.

His 63-ball innings was finally ended by Franklin, who enticed the batsman to edge to McCullum.

Vettori was again the pick of the New Zealand bowlers as he got through a mammoth 29 overs to end the day with figures of two for 74, including five maidens.

Franklin chipped in with two for 94 off 23 overs while Martin and O'Brien were unlucky to go wicketless for 79 and 64 from 21 and 17 overs respectively.