Pattinson the hero as Australia thrash Kiwis

Robert Smith

Debutant paceman James Pattinson spearheaded Australia to a crushing nine-wicket victory in the first Test against New Zealand inside four days at the Gabba on Sunday. Pattinson snared five for 27 including three wickets in four balls to help rout the Black Caps for 150 off 49.4 overs and leave Michael Clarke’s Australians needing just 19 runs for victory.

David Warner hit three fours off four balls to get the winning runs for the loss of Phil Hughes’ wicket to take a 1-0 series lead to Hobart next Friday.

Debut Test

Pattinson narrowly missed a hat-trick in his debut Test as he ripped through the New Zealand top order to put Australia on the path to victory.

The 21-year-old fast bowler took 5-7 in seven overs as he skittled the Kiwis.

Spinner Nathan Lyon chipped in with three for 19 to finish with seven wickets for the match as the Australians were set just 19 runs to win.

Pattinson, bowling a full length at searing pace, removed Martin Guptill (12), Kane Williamson (0) and skipper Ross Taylor (0) in the space of four balls in his opening over of the day.

Guptill could not keep down a lifter and popped an easy catch to Usman Khawaja at bat-pad to start the rot.

Edging

Williamson was out two balls later, edging to Ricky Ponting at second slip and Taylor was out next ball snicking to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to leave Pattinson on a hat-trick in his debut Test match. Jesse Ryder barely survived Pattinson’s hat-trick ball, a 150 km/h yorker to finish his fifth over with figures of 4-1 and leave New Zealand clinging on at 17 for four.

Damien Fleming is the only Australian to have taken a hat-trick on his Test debut, against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 1994. England’s Maurice Allom and New Zealander Peter Petherick also captured hat-tricks on Test debut.

Off stump

Nightwatchman Doug Bracewell became Pattinson’s fifth victim, falling to a full delivery on offstump and was caught behind by Haddin for two, leaving the Black Caps at 28 for five in the 13th over.

Pattinson, who was selected for the first Test after just nine first-class matches, surpassed his previous best first-class figures of 4-52 for his state Victoria. Captain Michael Clarke introduced the offspin of Lyon in the 22nd over and Ryder was lured into a false shot to Mike Hussey at mid-off.

Ryder hit six fours in his 36 in 63 minutes but the Kiwis badly needed someone to occupy the crease.

First ball

Warner’s first ball in Test cricket almost claimed a wicket when Brownlie on 34 was put down by a diving Pattinson on the deep mid-wicket boundary minutes before lunch. But Vettori fell when he attempted to cut part-timer Hussey to Clarke at slip for 17 with two balls left to lunch.

After lunch Lyon grabbed the wickets of Tim Southee and Chris Martin while Peter Siddle removed Dean Brownlie for 42.

Hughes was dropped before he was caught next ball at third slip off Chris Martin as Australia took just 14 balls to hit the winning runs. Warner smashed Bracewell for successive boundaries to seal the win.

AFP