Australia in sight of win

Christchurch (New Zealand), Feb. 23: Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja had Australia in sight of victory and the top Test ranking on Tuesday after an absorbing fourth day marked by stubborn resistance from New Zealand and umpire abuse by the tourists.

With Burns on 27 and Khawaja 19, Australia were 70 for 1 at stumps in the second Test in Christchurch, requiring a further 131 to sweep the series 2-0 and return to world number one.

Jackson Bird, with his first five-wicket Test haul, and James Pattinson combined to end the New Zealand second innings at 335, giving Australia a 201-run target.

David Warner, who has struggled on New Zealand surfaces, was the Australian wicket to fall, caught behind for 22.

Neil Wagner, using the short ball that provided him with six wickets in the first innings, caught Warner’s glove and BJ Watling completed the dismissal down the leg-side.

Earlier, Kane Williamson made 97 when adding 102 for the fifth wicket with Anderson.

The loss of Corey Anderson for 40 was the start of a Bird strike that claimed three wickets in six balls. Williamson and Tim Southee also fell before BJ Watling and Henry mounted rearguard resistance, adding 118 for the eighth wicket.

Bird, back in the Australian side for the first time in three years, was not totally happy with his performance despite taking five for 59. “I feel like I’ve been pretty inconsistent with the way I’ve bowled in the series,” he said.

— AFP Spectators play cricket on the field during the lunch break on Day Four of the second Test match between New Zealand and Australia at the Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Tuesday.