AUS 562
NZ 183, 327-all out (104.3 Ovs)
Australia won by an innings and 52 runs
Lo! That brings curtains on Baz's 100th Test match - He would have liked a win or a draw at least. But cricket is a cruel sport, if you don't turn up the opposition will peg you down. And that too against an opposition like Australia, you cannot afford a smidgen, silly error. New Zealand paid big time but will be eager to bounce back and square the series at Christchurch. That will be the last of B-MAC's career and the series as well. We will back on Friday to resume the ball-rolling action. On behalf of Pratyush Sinha and Naga, this is Raju Peethala calling it quits for this Test match. Cheerio!!
Voges: Big slice of luck late on Day 1 but I made the most out of that luck. Setting up a big partnership with Khawaja was key. You don't get many second chances. NZ bowed well on the second morning and it was a tricky one. Had to be patient. Had a Sheffield Shield game before this match and so kept ticking over.
Adam Voges is the Man of the Match for his splendid knock. He notched up a double ton plus 39 runs which included 30 fours and 3 sixes
Smith: Bowlers put the ball in the right areas and that's the most we could ask for after putting a side in. The colour of the wicket changed and it got better to bat each day. We battled hard with the bat. Voges and Khawaja's partnership was amazing. We got the ball to reverse which is always handy. Siddle has a bit of a spasm in his back; could have bowled if needed today. All four bowlers bowled well today. New Zealand are a good side and I know they will come back hard at us in Christchurch.
McCullum: Not ideal. Australia put the ball in the right areas on the first morning and put us under pressure. Usman and Adam played on a wicket which had something, credit to them. Turned out to be pretty good wicket later. Bowling last on that surface - a 200 or 250-run lead would have been handy. Nicholls was very composed. Never easy to come here and make runs. Handy contributions from other guys too. Australia were top class, deserve to win. I am not sure if the margin of the win is a testament to the difference between the two teams.
New Zealand, however, didn't make use of the conditions in the second innings. After a solid opening stand, Latham, Guptill threw it away while Williamson had a rare blip with the bat. Henry Nicholls claimed the highest score by a New Zealand number 4 on debut but failed to show sound judgement to a swinging peach from Bird. Southee and Boult had their share of fun as the latter eclipsed Courtney Walsh for most number of sixes by a number 11. Craig fought hard and could only succeed in creating an unusual yet memorable record for himself - He was unbeaten in both innings. So Australia bundled New Zealand twice sans consuming Craig. But jeez! I'm sure Craig wouldn't want to have a look at his bowling card. Just can't...
Phew! That ends New Zealand's unbeaten streak at home since March 2012. Today morning was all about posting a stamp on the envelope and Australia did it with ease, packing New Zealand in one-and-half session's time. After being asked to bat first, New Zealand faltered under swinging and seaming conditions and were all out under 200. Australia's Usman Khawaja who has been in the form of his life, pummelled the Kiwi bowlers with his flair and fast-hand approach. Then came in Adam Voges to fill his run-starved hunger with loads and loads of runs. Smashed 56 runs greater than the Kiwi first innings total and eventually New Zealand lost by 52 runs - So that should tell you the story.
Mitchell Marsh to Boult, out Bowled!! Who would have thought? Who? Won the toss on a green mamba, turned the tables on the hosts and have now gotten a win so big that Kiwis go down by an innings. Win by an innings and 52 runs to be precise. Yorker on the base of off, a greedy Boult shuffled too far across trying to flick fine, missed it altogether and the stumps stand shattered. Australia go 1-0 up to ensure they don't lose this series. Boult b Mitchell Marsh 12(16) [4s-1 6s-1]
Mitchell Marsh to Boult, THAT'S OUT!! Bowled!!
Mitchell Marsh to Boult, FOUR, fun. Short ball on the top of stumps, Boult stands tall and forehands it down the ground
Mitchell Marsh to Boult, no run, short of length delivery on middle and leg, Boult raised his bat high and then fended it in front of FSL
104
Runs Scored: 5
0 1 0 0 0 4
Score after 104 overs
NZ 323-9
33
(64)
8
(13)
Lyon
31-10-91-4
Lyon to Craig, FOUR, short, wide and four! Runs are flowing, Craig has enough time to place the cut through a diving cover
Lyon to Craig, no run, gets forward and blunts it down the pitch
Lyon to Craig, no run, muted appeal. This ball drifted in, came in with the angle but a front foot stride meant that he was struck outside off
Lyon to Craig, no run, presses forward and defends it
Lyon to Boult, 1 run, with the mid-on back, Boult bent his front knee, got under the ball and swept it to deep mid-wicket
Lyon to Boult, no run, aborts his shimmy seeing Lyon push it flat, adjusts and defends it
103
Runs Scored: 10
0 1 1 4 0 4
Score after 103 overs
NZ 318-9
29
(60)
7
(11)
Mitchell Marsh
17-2-69-2
Mitchell Marsh to Craig, FOUR, greedy fuller length delivery, Craig leans in and creams the drive through extra cover. Full swings of the bat and great placement through the off-side ring
Mitchell Marsh to Craig, no run, pitched up and Craig drives it straight to short cover
Mitchell Marsh to Craig, FOUR, banged in outside off, Craig drags the pull off the inner half through mid-on, vrooms through!
Mitchell Marsh to Boult, 1 run, exposes all the sticks by a long shuffle across, picks up this fuller length delivery and flicks it over mid-wicket for a single
Mitchell Marsh to Craig, 1 run, width outside off, Craig cuts it uppishly through cover and gets a single
Mitchell Marsh to Craig, no run, inside edge and it's safe. Looked to punch, the angle in helped an inside edge that runs to fine leg
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