The Hindu : Sport : Katich, Gilchrist hit centuries

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 13, 2005

Sport

Sport

Katich, Gilchrist hit centuries

CHRISTCHURCH, MARCH 12. Simon Katich and Adam Gilchrist scored centuries in a 212-run partnership today, which salvaged Australia's hopes on the third day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at the Jade Stadium here.

Katich scored 118 and Gilchrist 121 in a seventh-wicket stand which spanned most of the day's last two sessions and helped Australia to 432, just one run behind New Zealand's first innings score.

New Zealand faced six overs before stumps and was nine without loss in its second innings, leading by 10 runs overall.

Australia had been in danger of following on at 160-5, replying to New Zealand's 433, and was still in trouble at 201-6 when Katich and Gilchrist came together before lunch.

Katich was then on 46, batting circumspectly, but Gilchrist dragged his partner into an assault on the New Zealand bowlers, which revived Australia's innings and turned the tide of the match.

When the pair was finally separated after four hours and 45 minutes, Australia was 413-7, just 20 runs behind New Zealand's total.

Australia suffered another small collapse after their separation; Katich followed Gilchrist to the dressing room when only five runs had been added and the last three wickets went down for 19 runs.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, the only New Zealand bowler granted general respect by the Australians, dismissed Gilchrist and claimed four of the last five wickets to finish with 5-106, his 12th five-wicket bag in Tests.

Gilchrist's mammoth innings ended in a fitting manner when he was caught by Iain O'Brien, running at full stretch on the very edge of the boundary.

His 14th Test century was a work of classic technique, skill and aggression, with six sixes, many of them off Vettori, and 12 fours.

Katich had been organising a rearguard action when Gilchrist joined him at the crease, having added 41 runs in his previous partnership with diligent nightwatchman Jason Gillespie. Gillespie had come to the wicket two overs before stumps yesterday and he batted for all but 16 minutes of the first session to stall the decline of the Australian innings.

Although he made only 12, the fast bowler occupied the crease for one hour and 46 minutes, enabling Katich to establish himself before Gilchrist's arrival.

Gilchrist ignored Australia's tenuous position and immediately took to the bowling, playing with his typical forcefulness and fluency. He took his first 50 runs from only 52 balls and added 62 runs with Katich in the first hour of the second session.

Katich flourished with Gilchrist in the role of senior partner and his broad, resilient innings incorporated 20 fours and a six.

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