The BLACKCAPS’ batsmen again self destructed as a royal chance to seize control of the second cricket test against Australia passed them by in Adelaide.
The tourists slumped from an imposing 101 for one at lunch to end the first day on 262 for six after captain Daniel Vettori won the toss on a dream batting surface at Adelaide Oval.
The Brisbane blues returned as four of the BLACKCAPS’ top six fell to loose strokes, including opener Aaron Redmond, who blazed a test-best 83 before holing out to a boundary catch.
Vice-captain Brendon McCullum, on 30 not out, and Vettori, on 12, survived the new ball before stumps and carry the team's hopes tomorrow to try and boost them past 400.
At the toss Vettori called correctly for a second successive test and, just as in Brisbane, gave his side the early edge at a venue where the team batting first had posted 500-plus in four of the previous five tests.
The BLACKCAPS arrived in Adelaide needing victory to level the two-test series, and at least a draw to avoid slipping past the West Indies to No 8 in the world rankings.
After a shaky start to his test career, and just 31 runs from four innings on this tour, it finally looked to be Redmond's day in his seventh match.
He watched Jamie How depart for 16 to a loose drive at Mitchell Johnson, then took charge as a positive approach paid dividends.
Speedster Brett Lee was crashed four times to the off side fence, and offspinner Nathan Hauritz also bore the brunt in his second test, four years after his debut as Jason Krejza's sprained ankle gave him a lucky break.
Redmond clouted him over mid wicket for consecutive sixes, to reach his second test half-century off 80 deliveries, then cracked successive boundaries to leave Hauritz with none for 25 off two overs.
He and Jesse Ryder would have enjoyed their lunch, but Ryder lasted just four balls into the middle session when, on 13, a pull shot off Hauritz was well caught by Michael Clarke.
Redmond passed his test best of 79 against Bangladesh with a neat back cut off Hauritz, but next ball tried to slog-sweep him into the stands and offered a simple catch to Andrew Symonds at deep mid wicket.
A shattered Redmond bowed his head mid-pitch as he reflected on a century gone begging, having faced 125 deliveries and hit 14 fours and two sixes.
The recalled Peter Fulton and Ross Taylor looked to revive the innings with a fourth-wicket stand of 64, but Fulton became the villain on 29 when he hit a Symonds short ball to Simon Katich at mid wicket two overs before tea.
It signalled a mini-collapse of three for 34, as Taylor was adjudged leg before wicket for 44 by umpire Rudi Koertzen when Stuart Clark's delivery looked to be clearing the stumps.
Taylor got a lucky break earlier when he was caught on five off a Lee no-ball.
Then Daniel Flynn was forced back in the crease and bowled through the gate by a Lee thunderbolt, and it was suddenly 228 for six.
Hauritz didn't bowl in the final session after twisting his left ankle while fielding on the boundary, and finished an eventful day with two for 63 off 16 overs.
NZPA
