Australia vs New Zealand 2nd Test Day 4 Review: Smith, Voges hammer centuries but match still evenly poised

Australia vs New Zealand 2^nd Test Day 4 Review: Smith, Voges hammer centuries but match still evenly poised: The run feast at the WACA continued even on the 4^th day, as Steven Smith and Adam Voges notched up brilliant centuries to help Australia gain a 2^nd innings lead of 193 runs. Considering the condition of the pitch, the most likely result will be a draw. But cricket is a funny game, as we have experienced a lot of times, and one cannot rule out either of the teams pulling out a stunner to win the game.

The New Zealand started off the day in a fashion which was expected from them. Ross Taylor remained as solid as ever, and march on to his 250. Taylor knew that the tail wouldn’t hang around for long, as he started to play his shots. Both Mark Craig and Matt Henry fell quickly, leaving the New Zealand hovering just around the Australian total. But a small cameo from Tim Southee drove New Zealand above the Australian score.

Southee eventually fell for 21, with Taylor in his 280s. Meanwhile with the lead of about 40, the Australians would have expected to come out to bat quickly. But Trent Boult had other ideas; irritating the Aussie bowlers with some lusty hits all over the park. Meanwhile, it looked like Ross Taylor would become the 2^nd New Zealand batsman to reach the magical 300 mark. But it was not to be, as he was caught at the deep after trying to sweep Lyon out of the park. Though, he managed to break a century-old record, and currently owns the record of scoring the highest individual score by a visitor in Australia.

The Australians had a bad start considering the circumstances. Both the openers fell within the first 10 overs of the innings, leaving the batting order in a slightly precautious situation. But what followed was another partnership filled with runs. Both the batsmen blunted the attack on a lifeless pitch, and both of them went on to score their respective centuries. While Smith, who had a slightly lean patch considering his lofty standards, came to the WACA party with a stroke-filled century, Adam Voges scored his first ever Test century, that too at his home ground.

As far as the visitors are concerned, the partnership between Voges and Smith effectively ended their chances of victory at the WACA, but they can be heartened with their comeback in this Test match. Though chances of a result are highly unlikely in this belter of a pitch, the New Zealand team must be wary of any batting collapses when they are put on to bat. As far as Australia is concerned, one can expect them to declare post lunch session. A match full of runs is heading towards an impending draw, though the other two results cannot be completely ruled out.

Summary

After restricting the Black Caps from taking up a huge lead, the Australians effectively struck out the chances of their defeat with some exceptional batting in the second innings. In a lifeless pitch, nothing much could have been done by the visitors, and they will look to play safely and savage a draw.

Scorecard

New Zealand 624 ( Ross Taylor 290, Kane Williamson 166; Starc 4-119)

Australia 559/9 decl and 258/2 (Steven Smith 131*, Adam Voges 101*; Southee 1-40)