GILCHRIST AND MARTYN LEAD AUSTRALIAN RECOVERY

Gilchrist was the dominant partner after arriving at the crease with the tourists in a spot of bother at 154-5. Gilchrist is recognised as one of the game's hardest hitters and further enhanced that reputation with a series of savage pulls and drives, treating both spin and pace alike.

His reward was 21 fours and three sixes as he reached 150, having faced only 149 deliveries. Martyn was content to play the supporting role yet never looked in the slightest trouble as he hit 16 fours and a six in an unbeaten 114 spanning 182 deliveries.

In contrast to Gilchrist's powerful play, Martyn excelled in caressing the ball through the gaps as the Australians scored at about five an over to complete a superb recovery after an inauspicious start.

Essex had enjoyed a successful opening hour when they claimed three wickets in the first 14 overs. Mark Ilott, the county's left-arm seamer, struck twice with the total on 36.

He had Michael Slater caught down the legside by James Foster and then the wicket-keeper took another straightforward catch two deliveries later as Justin Langer pushed forward at a wide delivery outside his off stump.

Foster's safe hands also accounted for Matthew Hayden, this time to give 19-year-old paceman Justin Bishop the first of his two successes. Bishop followed up when he had Mark Waugh caught at cover by Graham Napier for 25.

Ricky Ponting, whose 63 arrived from as many deliveries, was the only batsman to show any real authority before lunch but he departed soon afterwards when he tried to cut a ball from off spinner Peter Such and was bowled.

Left with nine overs before the close, Essex lost Paul Grayson without scoring but Nasser Hussain, opening the innings, survived a pace onslaught and got off the mark with a pull for six from Jason Gillespie as the home side closed on 16-1.

GILCHRIST AND MARTYN GO ON THE OFFENSIVE

Ricky Ponting was dismissed in the fifth over after lunch when he missed an attempted cut and was bowled by Peter Such.

However, Adam Gilchrist joined Damien Martyn to enrich the innings in a highly entertaining unbeaten partnership of 131 for the sixth wicket as the pair enjoyed a profitable time in this final warm-up match before the First Test next week.

Both players reached half-centuries, with Gilchrist the more attacking. He took only 56 deliveries to reach the milestone with eight boundaries that included two sixes while Martyn was altogether more circumspect yet equally effective. He reached his fifty having faced 108 balls and struck nine fours.

Gilchrist continued his savaging of the home attack, who lost the services of Ronnie Irani when the Essex skipper took a blow on the hand while fielding a powerful off-drive from Martyn, and at tea the Aussie vice-captain was within twelve runs of a century having faced just 90 deliveries.

PONTING STANDS FIRM FOR THE AUSTRALIANS

After Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater had put on 36 for the first wicket, Mark Ilott grabbed two wickets in three deliveries. Slater glanced the bowler down the leg side to give wicket-keeper James Foster the first of three catches and then Justin Langer lasted only two deliveries when he fenced at a ball that lifted and was snapped up by Foster for a duck.

Three overs later, Hayden, having been dropped by Peter Such on 19, had added four more when he attempted a shot down the legside to give 19-year-old Justin Bishop a wicket that left the Australians 46-3.

Mark Waugh and Ponting then added some substance to the innings with a partnership of 64 although Waugh also survived a chance to Such when he had scored ten.

Ponting took a particular shine to fast bowler Andrew McGarry, striking eight boundaries in three overs that saw the 19-year-old taken out of the attack.

But when Bishop returned, he induced a loose drive from Waugh and Graham Napier took a catch at cover to remove the former Essex overseas player.

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Date-stamped : 30 Jun2001 - 06:27