The Hindu : Sport : Astle, McCullum join run feast

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 06, 2005

Sport

Sport

Astle, McCullum join run feast

NAPIER, APRIL 5. Celebration and despair worked in tandem as New Zealand amassed 561 on the second day of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka at McLean Park on Tuesday.

Hamish Marshall celebrated his highest score in Tests, 160, and was the mainstay of New Zealand's innings; it's third-highest against Sri Lanka and its sixth-highest total in all Tests.

Nathan Astle celebrated his 114, his 10th century in Tests and an innings which marked his rehabilitation from a chronic knee problem, and James Franklin produced 55, his first Test half century and his highest career score.

But amid all the celebration there was a shared sense of despair for wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, who was out lbw for 99.

Sri Lanka batted its way comfortably to 48 without loss in 12 overs before stumps, suggesting the continued domination of batsmen over bowlers. Jayasuriya was 31 not out and Marvan Atapattu 14 not out.

Earlier, New Zealand collectively enjoyed one of its best days of the summer and blew aside some of the negative feelings that lingered after heavy losses last month to Australia.

Disappointed

McCullum, who has only one century and now five half centuries in Tests, was the ninth New Zealander to be dismissed 99 in a Test innings.

He posted his first century against Bangladesh in October and raced towards his second in a confident innings littered with boundaries.

He slowed as the larger milestone approached, going from 96 to 99 with singles then misjudged a slower ball from Lasith Malinga and was trapped lbw.

When the umpire's finger went up, he clutched his head in despair; out in the 90s for the second time in Tests.

``I'm pretty happy about getting 90-odd but extremely disappointed I didn't crack 100,'' McCullum said. ``My plan when I got into the 90s was to slog it for a little while, then see how I got on.

``The two previous times I got into the 90s I remember I scratched for runs when I got out but the previous time, when I got to 100, I played more confidently.

``I just wanted to see how close I could get and play the game I was playing. Unfortunately, I got out.'' cCullum had enjoyed a 129-run sixth-wicket partnership with Astle which was one of a series of good partnerships for New Zealand.

Twin brothers James and Hamish Marshall put on 107 for the second wicket and Hamish Marshall and Astle went on, after New Zealand resumed Tuesday at 267-3, to add 125 in 130 minutes for the fourth wicket. — AP

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