ADELAIDE : Australia bowled New Zealand out for 208 today to set up a 187-run target to seal the three-match series 2-0 in the final test in Adelaide. New Zealand resumed on 116-5 and lost their last five wickets for 92 runs on a sun-bathed afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
Josh Hazlewood finished with 6-70 for career-best match figures of 9-136, stepping up in the absence of injured pace spearhead Mitchell Starc in test cricket’s inaugural day-night match. Debutant all-rounder Mitchell Santner anchored a rearguard action with an impressive 45 but his stumping after the drinks break off the bowling of Nathan Lyon quashed the tourists’ hopes of a more defendable total.
BJ Watling resumed on seven, with Santner on 13 but the partnership added no run before it was broken on the ninth ball of the day by Hazlewood. Wicketkeeper Watling edged the paceman into the slips and Australia captain Steven Smith took a fine, lunging catch having put down two chances late on day two.
Hazlewood celebrated his fifth wicket of the innings by having spinner Mark Craig caught behind for 15. Doug Bracewell joined Santner out in the middle and the pair compiled a useful 35-run partnership, with Bracewell pulling fellow paceman Peter Siddle over the fence for six. Fast bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh captured his third wicket when Tim Southee, on 16, miscued a pull to the rope where Lyon jogged across to take the catch. Bracewell kept slogging as number 11 batsman Trent Boult joined him and he finished with a handy unbeaten 27.
But Hazlewood put an end to the resistance by bowling Boult who swiped wildly at a straighter delivery to be out for five. With a whole session in the sun to chip away at New Zealand’s total before the more perilous twilight period, Australia’s batsmen will have high hopes of completing an emphatic victory within three days. (AGENCIES)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel