Christchurch: Matt Henry and Ben Sears tore through Australia’s struggling top order on a dramatic third day at Hagley Oval, but Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head halted New Zealand’s bid to exit the second Test on a knife’s edge.
Needing 279 runs to clinch the series 2-0, Australia were in disarray at 34 for 4 with Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green falling cheaply. But Marsh and Head put on a steady 43-run partnership as Australia reached stumps at 77 for 4, needing another 202 runs to win.
After taking 15 wickets in three innings in the series, Henry loomed as New Zealand’s main hope and was much caught behind Khawaja’s appeal when his first delivery was dismissed.
But Henry soon got his first breakthrough when he trapped a shuffling Smith lbw for 9. Smith checked at the last second but the decision was upheld and he completed his modest series haul of 51 runs at 12.75 as attention intensified with his move up the order . .
Sears continued his eye-catching debut after coming into the attack in the ninth over and his second delivery had Labuschagne edging to first slip only for Daryl Mitchell to drop a catch low to his right. But it was not worth the run with Labuschagne off two balls, who later failed to control a lifting delivery as he offered a reverse catch to Sears.
New Zealand were in the game when Khawaja edged Henry to Tim Southee, who kept a stunning pace down the left side in the slips. Australia’s collapse was completed when Green cut down on a pumped-up Sears, who celebrated with gusto.
Reaching the crease after back-to-back ducks, Marsh smashed a boundary off the first ball and was undeterred by the situation as he counter-attacked bravely. Australia’s hopes rest largely with Marsh and Head, who were forced to play defensively before the end.
In a bowler-dominated series, batting looked easier against the older ball, with the new ball doing most of the damage.
Australia had previously only chased 279 runs or more 13 times, most recently at Edgbaston during the Ashes last year. She had earlier reduced New Zealand’s lead after Pat Cummins made a superb over. A 53-run seventh wicket partnership between Glenn Phillips and Scott Kuggeleijn put New Zealand in a position to take a lead of over 300 runs. But they crumbled and lost 4 for 23 to be bowled out for 372 shortly after tea.
Cummins was outstanding as he finished with 4 for 62, while Nathan Lyon found sharp turn after the break to break through the lower order with three wickets.
Goalkeeper Alex Carey equaled an Australian record with ten shutouts in a game.
After being dismissed for just 162 on the first day, New Zealand fought back from then to sniff their second Test win against Australia in three decades.
New Zealand looked to be in a position of strength as Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra put on 123 runs for the fourth wicket in a series-high stand for both teams.
But the match turned soon after Australia got the second new ball, Josh Hazlewood cutting Mitchell for 58 before Ravindra fell for 82 to Cummins’ first ball of the new spell when he was caught behind a brilliant short ball. delivery.
