Australia vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 4 Review: Rain Halts Australia’s march.

Australia vs New Zealand 1^st Test Day 4 Review: Rain Halts Australia’ march: On a day wherein nearly most of the Aussie fans would have thought that their players would wrap up the match quickly, rain played spoilsport to give the New Zealand batsmen a slight reprieve. In the 53 overs bowled, New Zealand batsmen, especially Guptill and Williamson, ensured that the match is stretched to the final day. At stumps, New Zealand ended with 142 on board for the loss of 3 wickets, still a day to go and a humongous 362 runs to win.

Earlier, Australia declared at their overnight score, setting up a target of 504 for the New Zealand batsmen. The batsmen started patiently against the Aussie new ball bowlers. Though both Johnson and Starc managed to extract some swing from the semi-overcast conditions, they weren’t consistent enough to trouble the batsmen at frequent intervals. The first hour went on without much of a fuss for either of the teams, with the exception of Burns dropping a sharp chance at FSL.

The biggest chance of the day till then was produced by Mitchell Johnson, only for Nathan Lyon to drop a decent chance. Guptill’s half-hearted shot nearly ended up costing his wicket, only for Lyon to drop it at backward point. But Mitchell Starc got the first breakthrough when he got Latham off his trademark Yorker swinging onto his toes. Just after the fall of a wicket, a light drizzle ensured that an early lunch was taken.

Post lunch session resumed the New Zealand resistance, with a glimmer of hope coming from the presence of in-form Kane Williamson. But in a stark contrast, Guptill was barely surviving at the crease. Scoring at a strike rate of less than 30, he was in all sorts of trouble against Lyon. And eventually, Lyon ended Guptill’s resistance, who ended up edging one to the slips. Then came in an out of form Ross Taylor, and the Aussies were smelling blood.

And just before the tea break, Lyon took out the big fish Williamson, who perished trying to pull a ball which kept low. He unsuccessfully reviewed it, and the Aussies got the all important wicket just before the tea break. But unfortunately, due to constant showers post tea, not a single ball was bowled post tea session. The scorecard read 142 for the loss of 3 wickets, with Ross Taylor looking better than he has been in quite some time.

Summary

A day hampered with rain breaks, Australia would be slightly disappointed for not getting enough time out in the middle. With 90 more overs left in the match, Australia would still fancy their chances, if the weather plays out well. Meanwhile, the loss of Williamson would have hurt the New Zealand team badly, but Ross Taylor looks solid enough, and the captain has an opportunity to rectify his first innings failure. An exciting final day awaits us.

Scorecard

Australia 556/4 decl and 264/4 decl

New Zealand 317 and 142/3( Williamson 59, Latham 29; Lyon 2-33)