Australia v New Zealand 3rd Test Review: Australia win Cliffhanger Test to seal the series 2-0

Australia v New Zealand 3rd Test Review: Australia win Cliffhanger Test to seal the series 2-0: The hosts Australia sealed the series 2-0 after winning the first ever day-night Test match of the cricket history. The match could have swung either way as it was a close contest between the two trans-Tasman nations. Over 33,000 spectators flooded the stadium on day 3 of the historic Test. Australia were set a target of 187 which on a given day would be an easy total to achieve. But given the fact that the match had been a low scoring affair thus far, gave the visitors some hope. New Zealand pacers struck gold and had Australia 7 down at 185. But needing just two runs, Aussie tail-enders Peter Siddle and an injured Mitchell Starc ensured that they saw their side home. The 3-wicket win was confirmed as Siddle punched one past point off Tim Southee, Starc hobbled through for the two runs required to give Australia a 2-0 win in the series.

The historic match kick-started with New Zealand winning the toss and electing to bat first. While Mitchell Starc became the first bowler to bowl with the pink ball in the history of Test cricket, it was Josh Hazlewood who picked up the first wicket with the pink ball by trapping Guptill for 1 run in the fourth over of the Test match. Opener Latham struck a half century before off-spinner Nathan Lyon had him stumped.

Williamson and Taylor contributed with 22 and 21 each before getting dismissed. Soon after cleaning up debutant Santner for 31, Aussie spearhead Starc was seen limping on the field. The Australian team management later confirmed his injury and said that he would not bowl again in the Test match. No other batsman could cross the 40 run mark in the Kiwi side. The team was bundled out for 202 with wickets being shared among all bowlers; Starc and Hazlewood picked 3 apiece and Lyon and Siddle chipped in with a couple of wickets each.

The Aussies had a horrible start to their first innings too as in-form David Warner was dismissed by Boult for just one run. Joe Burns fell soon and was dismissed by Bracewell. Adam Voges and the Marsh brothers couldn’t contribute much either and Australia were reeling on 80/5 before skipper Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill steadied the ship. Smith was stumped on 53, but Nevill showed resilience to continue.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand resumed their batting at 116/5 with Santner and Watling at the crease and a lead of 94 runs. Watling could add just one more to his overnight score before being dismissed by Hazlewood. Santner showed some resistance and batted with the tail to take Australia past the 200 mark.

The Aussies at one stage were stuttering at 118/8 when New Zealand appealed against Nathan Lyon for a catch. The New Zealanders were convinced that Lyon was out when his sweep-shot sent the ball looping into the slips and the spinner himself started walking back to the pavilion and the ‘Hot Spot’ technology revealed the mark on his bat. While the Snickometer gave no hint of an edge, Umpire Nigel Llong dismissed the other evidence out of hand, remarking that the mark “could have come from anywhere.” This proved to be disastrous for the visitors who were in total charge of the situation. Nevill and Lyon then amassed crucial runs to take a lead of 22 runs. Australia ended with 224 with Nevill being the last man to be dismissed. Lyon and Starc contributed with 34 and 24* respectively.

In the second innings too, New Zealand couldn’t do much as an on-song Josh Hazlewood ripped apart the Kiwi lineup. Hazlewood picked up 6/70 in his 24.5 overs to wrap them up for a total of 208. Openers Latham and Guptill could manage 10 and 17 respectively while the Kiwi mainstay Kane Williamson scored just 9 before getting caught behind on a Mitchell Marsh delivery. Skipper Brendon McCullum was lbw by Marsh on 20 and Ross Taylor scored a crucial 32 runs. New Zealand finished day 2 with an overnight score of 116/5 with Watling and Santner batting on 7*and 13* respectively.

The day 3 resumed and Watling could add only one more run to his overnight score before being dismissed by Hazlewood. Wickets continued to tumble with only Bracewell scoring an unbeaten 27 and Santner again top scored with 45. But it was almost over for New Zealand when Watling stumped Santner on 45 on a Lyon delivery. Kiwis could manage just 208 in their second innings.

The Aussies were set a target of 187 runs. The openers Warner and Burns gave a flying start before Burns was dismissed on 11 by Boult. Warner (35) and Smith (14) fell in quick succession to leave Australia on 66/3. Shaun Marsh and Voges put on 49 runs before Boult dismissed Voges on 28. Mitchell Marsh (28) was dismissed by Santner and Boult removed Shaun Marsh (49) and Peter Nevill (10) to take a five-for which gave the visitors a chance. Australia was 185/7 when Siddle hit the winning runs to take Australia home and sealed the series 2-0.

Brief Scores:

Australia – 224 (Nevill 66, Smith 53, Bracewell 3/18) and

187/7 (S Marsh 49; Boult 5/60)

New Zealand – 202 (Latham 50, Starc 3-24; Hazlewood 3/66) and

208 (Santner 45, Hazlewood 6/70, M Marsh 3/59)

Australia won by 3 wickets.

Man of the Match: Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

Man of the Series: David Warner (Australia)