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Ponting puts Aussies in charge

Sunday, 30 November 2008


Australia need just 30 runs to take a first innings lead against New Zealand after dominating day two of the second Test in Adelaide, BBC reports.
Brett Lee took 3-6 in a 27-ball spell as the Black Caps collapsed from 262-6 overnight to 270 all out.
Australia lost Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich early on, but Ricky Ponting (79) and Michael Hussey (69no) took charge with a crucial stand of 106.
Michael Clarke then batted impressively with Hussey to leave Australia on top.
New Zealand's hopes of building on a battling first day batting performance were dashed in a hostile spell from paceman Lee.
A clever change of pace saw Lee dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum, the Black Caps' main hope for a big total, for 30.
He also had Iain O'Brien caught behind before knocking Chris Martin's middle stump out of the ground to inflict another duck on the number 11.