Burns, Smith tons put Australia in charge
Aussies trail New Zealand by 7 runs
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Feb 21, (AFP): Century-makers Joe Burns and Steve Smith shredded the New Zealand attack to have Australia in charge of the second Test, before both fell in the dying stages of day two in Christchurch on Sunday.
Burns hit a career best 170, his third century, and Smith made 138, his 14th, as Australia ended the day at a commanding 363-4 in reply to New Zealand’s 370.
After Brendon McCullum’s 145-run blitz gave New Zealand the first day honours on a green, seaming wicket, Burns and his captain Smith ensured the momentum swung Australia’s way as the pitch flattened out.
Burns spent a lot of time successfully fighting off Neil Wagner’s short-ball tactic before eventually pulling one to Martin Guptill at square leg with 28 balls left in the day.
Five balls later, in a repeat scenario, Guptill gave Wagner his second wicket
Burns spent 434 minutes in the middle from the start of the Australian innings and in a patient stand easily eclipsed his previous Test best of 129, also against New Zealand, in Brisbane last November.
He received a vital reprieve after he was given out, caught behind for 35, only for the umpire’s decision to be overturned when replays showed the ball had glanced off his arm and not the glove.
The Burns-Smith partnership produced 289 runs, an Australian third-wicket record against New Zealand.
Australian captain Steve Smith plays a shot during day two of the second cricket Test match between New Zealand and Australia at the Hagley Park
in Christchurch on Feb 21. (AFP)
Matt Henry was handed the second new ball ahead of Tim Southee and whipped down six aggressive overs which appeared to extract new life out of the wicket.
His third delivery with the new ball jagged back enough to beat Burns down the leg side and race to the boundary for four byes, the first extras in the innings.
Another delivery sailed over Burns’ stumps.
But like Wagner and his fired-up spell in the dying overs with the old ball, he was left frustrated by an inability to find an edge that would reach the cordon behind the stumps.
After Australia resumed the day at 571, they added 306 for the loss of three wickets with Usman Khawaja the first to go.
New Zealand quicks Trent Boult, Southee and Henry had the better of the exchanges at the start of the day.
Scoreboard