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Lee does it for Aussies

December 02, 2008 00:00:00


Brett Lee bounced back from his troubled tour of India with nine wickets against New Zealand as Australia sealed a 2-0 series win, BBC reports.
Lee took 4-66 and 5-105 as New Zealand made just 203 in their second innings, losing by an innings and 62 runs.
Brendon McCullum provided resistance in Adelaide with an explosive 84 which included 14 fours and two sixes.
But Lee, left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson (3-29) and spinner Nathan Hauritz (2-32) ensured a four-day win.
Lee took just two wickets per Test in India and was under pressure to perform with series against South Africa and England to come.
There was even talk the 32-year-old paceman would be rested for one of the New Zealand Tests. Lee countered with the best match figures he has ever collected in a Test.
He said a virus picked up in India had robbed him of his strength, and had taken a while to shake off.
Lee said. "It only feels now over the last couple of weeks that the strength has come back. The results show that as far as pace and wickets. I'm ecstatic to get nine wickets in a Test."
"I've been improving every match. That just goes down to strength. The next couple of weeks are going to do me a lot of good I think, being back in the gym, having a great strength programme, putting back on the kilos that I've lost. I'm getting really close."
For all Lee's improvement, New Zealand were extremely poor with the bat in Adelaide, and Australia are sure to face stiffer opposition from South Africa.
They began the day on 35-0, still 230 behind, but lost five wickets before lunch in a limp attempt to make the Aussies to bat again.
Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori watched on as his team self-destructed in the face of Lee's probing line and length.
Australia 1st Innings: 535 all out (157.4 overs), New Zealand 1st Innings: 270 all out (98.3 overs), New Zealand 2nd Innings: 203 all out (74.1 overs).

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