Welcome To Lancaster Park in Christchurch (To me it will always be Lancaster park) The pitch is a typical pitch for the area will be nice even bounce with minimal movement off the pitch.
(I did change it to fielding restrictions on before i continued)
The toss was thrown up by the match referee, and the Australian captain Ricky Ponting called Heads. The coin landed beside the pitch showing tails. New Zealands captain Stephen Fleming had no hesitation in chosing to bat first on such a good pitch.
The New Zealand openers, Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle walked out onto the pitch looking confident and why shouldnt they? Fleming led the way and the umpires did a little bit of the following.
After 10 overs, New Zealand were crusing at 75 for 1 but some good disiplined bowling by the slower bowlers in the last stint and also a good 3rd to last over by Lee with his maiden and only getting 6 of the last over. Though that was off the last ball of the innings.
So after a great start by the New Zealand openers they slowed down with some good bowling. McMillan having a shocker hardly being able to hit Brad Hogg.
How will the 116 that New Zealand piled up be against the might of the Australian batting? Shane Bond and Dan Vettori will be important bowlers in the New Zealand cause.