New Zealand took control of the first Test with Australia on Friday after Jacob Oram scored an unbeaten century and the bowlers ripped through the Australian batting line-up. Oram blasted a career-best 126 not out to help the Kiwis amass a healthy first innings total of 353 before the New Zealand bowlers reduced the world champions to 197-4 in reply, 156 in arrears when stumps were drawn early on day two because of fading light. Damien Martyn, named player of the series in Australia’s recent tour of India, continued his good form with an unbeaten 59 while new sensation Michael Clarke was 31 not out. The Australians still have Adam Gilchrist to come on a Gabba pitch favouring the batsmen but have already lost Matthew Hayden (8), Justin Langer (34), Ricky Ponting (51) and Darren Lehmann (8). Hayden was given out leg before wicket to a ball that hit him above the knee roll but Langer and Ponting steadied the ship with a second wicket stand of 69 before Langer was struck on the pads by left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for 34. Ponting was unusually hesitant in the initial stages of his knock but slowly grew in confidence and brought up his half-century with a straight drive for four off Chris Martin only to be caught by a diving Nathan Astle at square leg next ball. Australia slumped to 128-4 when Lehmann top-edged Vettori to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum but Martyn and Clarke came to the rescue with an unbroken partnership of 69. (Reuters) Brief scores New Zealand: 353 (M.Sinclair 69, J.Oram 126 n.o, K.Mills 29, Kasprowicz 4-90, Warne 4-97) vs Australia: 197-4 (J.Langer 34, R.Ponting 51, D.Martyn batting 59, M.Clarke batting 31, Vettori 2-49). Warne, Umpire Clash
