Warne adds five to Australia's stunning recovery

Australia 432 and 135 for 1 (Langer 72*) beat New Zealand 433 and 131 (McCullum 24, Warne 5-39, Gillespie 3-38) by 9 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Shane Warne led a sensational bowling performance that demolished New Zealand for a miserable 131 and Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting made sure there were no fourth-innings jitters as Australia took a 1-0 lead. After three days only 10 runs split the teams in a gripping, swinging opening to the three matches, but Australia quickly swung the momentum and recorded a demoralising nine-wicket win.

New Zealand also troubled Australia at Brisbane in November before crashing disastrously and their horrible third-innings blues were again on show. The Australia fast bowlers roared back to life as their opponents gave up the advantage won over the first seven sessions and lost with a day to spare. The recovery from this disaster will take longer than the four days before the second Test starting at Wellington on Friday.

Warne continued the momentum surge provided by Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich on Saturday by taking five wickets to move past 1000 first-class victims. Australia's at-the-stumps attack collected a world-record equalling seven lbw decisions and the four bowlers hunted together as they finally exerted their influence over a side that caused them serious danger in a first-innings 433.

Varying his bowling over and around the wicket, Warne took 5 for 39 from 14 overs that hypnotised the shot-scared batsmen. Hamish Marshall was the most composed following his first-innings 146, but he was again outclassed as he tried to pad the ball away. Bowled through his legs in the first innings, he was cleaned up around them today and became Warne's No. 1000. Australia's last man to reach the mark was Graham McKenzie.

The worst dismissal came from Craig McMillan, whose feet were so unsure where to move his shoelaces must have been tangled. Warne needed one over to turn him into a defensive knot as he let two full tosses outside leg stump hit his foot on the full, and then popped a defensive prod to Simon Katich at short-leg. Three lbw decisions - Daniel Vettori's was slightly doubtful - completed his 29th Test five-wicket haul and highlighted a disturbing batting trend.

While Australia's trouble traditionally comes from chasing small fourth-innings totals - they had no none today - New Zealand's difficulty since December 2003 has been batting in the third. Failure to set a significant target hampered their chances of victory with 76 at Brisbane, when they lost by an innings and 156 runs, and 161 and 218 as England beat them in the second and third Tests last winter. In two matches against Pakistan in 2003-04 they registered 96 for 8 and 103 in the 1-0 series loss. The disease struck violently when a total of 250 on a spinning pitch could have been a match-winner.

"The batsmen let us down," Fleming said. "It was a bad batting performance and the top order needed to come through. There were stops and starts, but nothing of substance. We've succumbed again on the fourth day of a Test."

Australia's one chasing wobble came when Vettori removed Matthew Hayden with the last ball before tea and they went to the break at 25 for 1. Langer drove powerfully on his way to a half-century and with Ponting's 47 ensured a smooth and hasty passage to safety. It was a satisfying end to a day belonging to the bowlers. "It's a very big win that, after day one and early day two, to fight back and win so comprehensively," Ponting said. "Shane and the rest of the bowlers bowled beautifully."

Jason Gillespie, who was ineffective on days one and two, was snubbed for the opening overs in favour of Michael Kasprowicz, but when he got the ball his menace returned and two wickets dropped the home side to 34 for 3. The first victim was Craig Cumming and it brought huge cheers from the Australia huddle as his teammates understood the bursting pressure from the 12th man Brett Lee.

Increasing his pace to the 140kph range, Gillespie's inswing forced both Cumming and Lou Vincent to play the wrong line. He returned after lunch to win a slightly doubtful decision to a similar ball to Brendon McCullum, and the lift in energy arrived in time to save his spot for the next Test.

Stephen Fleming was lucky not to fall lbw to the first ball of the day from Glenn McGrath, who won his third lbw shout when Fleming squeezed across the crease and left without the big innings he and his team so desperately required. Another game had slipped from his secure grasp after two brilliant rearguard hundreds and more bamboozling from Warne on his way to another envious record.

How they were out

New Zealand

Fleming lbw b McGrath 17 (20 for 1)
Fell across his stumps trying to flick an outswinger that hit in line with leg stump and was moving slightly down legside.

Cumming lbw b Gillespie 7 (30 for 2)
Stepped forward and played straight to a ball that angled in and was going to hit.

Vincent lbw b Gillespie 4 (34 for 3)
Attempted to defend and was caught in front a long way forward to a late inswinger heading for middle.

Astle b Kasprowicz 21 (71 for 4)
Off-cutter forced an inside edge from Astle, who was trying to leave, and the ball knocked over leg stump.

McMillan c Katich b Warne 5 (78 for 5)
Confused over his defensive method, McMillan blocked from outside his stumps to short-leg.

Marshall b Warne 22 (87 for 6)
Wanted to pad up to Warne bowling around the wicket and outside leg stump, but his bent leg didn't straighten in time.

McCullum lbw Gillespie 24 (121 for 7)
Another tricky inswinger that thudded into the pad, but was sneaking down the legside.

Vettori lbw Warne 23 (127 for 8)
Sweeping Warne as he bowled over the wicket, he became the fifth lbw of the innings when the legspinner pitched on off stump and turned.

O'Brien lbw Warne 0 (131 for 9)
Went half-forward to a straightening delivery.

Martin lbw Warne 0 (131)
Full ball drifting in slightly hit Martin on the front foot.

Australia

Hayden c Cumming b Vettori 15 (25 for 1)
Forced back to a high bouncing ball that brushed his glove and ballooned to short-leg.

Peter English is Australasian editor of Cricinfo.