Aussies have ‘backs against the wall’ as NZ push for win
CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand cleaned out the top four Australian batters on Sunday to leave the tourists on 77/4 and facing an uphill task in their chase of 279 to win the second Test in Christchurch. “Our backs are against the wall. New Zealand are on a roll,” Australian spinner Nathan Lyon said.
The hosts set a demanding target for an Australian side struggling for runs on a ground where the highest successful fourth innings is 285/8. Australia still need 202 runs.
Australian batters Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green were all swiftly sent back to the Hagley Oval pavilion by New Zealand’s seamers.
Matt Henry had figures of 2/37 with debutant Ben Sears on 2/22. Opener Smith again went cheaply, trapped in front by Henry for nine, with the quick bowler also getting Khawaja out, caught one-handed by Tim Southee at third slip for 11.
Sears had little time to fret over having Labuschagne dropped in the slips on six, as he completed the job himself with a fine caught-and-bowled two balls later.
With the pitch flattening out and not providing as much movement as it did over the first two days, New Zealand were well placed when they went to tea at 345/6 and were eyeing an imposing 300-plus target.
But momentum swung back Australia’s way as the New Zealand tail added just 27 and the last three wickets contributed only one run. At the top of the order, there were half-centuries from Latham, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, but no one was able to push on to three figures.
Brief scores: New Zealand 162 & 372 in 108.2 overs (R Ravindra 82, T Latham 73, D Mitchell 58, S Kuggeleijn 44; P Cummins 4/62, N Lyon 3/49) vs 256 & 77/4 in 24 overs.