MARTYN HITS CENTURY TO LIFT AUSTRALIANS

The powerful Western Australian did well to keep his concentration as rain caused three brief stoppages, and his unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 157 in 27 overs with Mark Waugh (88 not out) steered the tourists to 234-3 in their 50-over allocation.

Put in to bat by David Ripley, Australia hit early trouble as Darren Cousins removed acting-skipper Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds with successive deliveries. Gilchrist lost his leg stump when he bottom-edged an attempted pull, and then Symonds was trapped in front as he pushed half forward to his first ball.

Northants captured the key wicket of Michael Bevan for 19 when the left-hander chipped Tony Penberthy to mid-wicket, but Martyn and Waugh came together at 77-3 in the 23rd over and engineered an excellent recovery.

Martyn hit five boundaries in his 131-ball knock while his partner managed eight fours from 89 deliveries, and their efforts gave the Australians every chance of bouncing back from their shock defeat at the hands of Middlesex earlier this week.

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Date-stamped : 08 Jun2001 - 02:26