Australia collapse late but remain in a strong position
● Marnus Labuschagne and Joe Burns notched half-centuries before New Zealand’s unflagging attack yielded late wickets, but Australia had built a near insurmountable lead of 417 by stumps on day three of the first cricket Test yesterday.
Australia reached the close at 167/6 with Matthew Wade on eight and Pat Cummins on one. New Zealand quicks Neil Wagner and Tim Southee shared the spoils with six wickets between them.
Australia suffered a late collapse but remain in a strong position. The highest successful run chase in Test history is 418, achieved by the West Indies against Australia in 2003.
Burns (53) and Labuschagne, who has now passed 1,000 Test runs in 2019, did the bulk of the heavy lifting in an 87-run partnership. SA-born Labuschagne’s bid for a fourth straight Test century ended when he mistimed a pull shot on 50 off Wagner, who persevered with aggressive short-pitched bowling.
Australia’s tactical approach to bat carefully and set New Zealand a big target was exemplified by Burns, who did not score until the 25th delivery he faced. His patient knock, however, ended when he was undone by a short delivery from Southee.
Steve Smith, who scored 774 runs in the Ashes series in England this year, fell shortly before stumps for 16 to continue a recent barren run.
David Warner, who passed 7,000 Test runs, was Australia’s sole loss in the middle session after he miscued a pull shot off Southee on 19. His sluggish 63-ball innings was in contrast to his majestic unbeaten 335 in the last Test against Pakistan in Adelaide.
Even though they lost late wickets, Australia’s commanding performance gave them a stranglehold on the day-night contest. The hosts gained a sizeable 250-run first innings lead after bowling New Zealand out cheaply on the stroke of tea.
New Zealand, in reply to Australia’s first innings 416, were dismissed for a tame 166 with veteran Ross Taylor playing a lone hand with 80.
Mitchell Starc claimed his second fivewicket haul in as many Tests after missing most of the recent Ashes series.
He led a disciplined attack which was short-handed after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the Perth Test having suffered a hamstring injury on day two.
Both teams are without a paceman after debutant New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson, himself a replacement for injured Trent Boult, damaged his calf on day one.
Oppressive weather conditions continued for the third straight day as the temperature peaked at 41°C.
New Zealand have won only one Test in Australia since their sole series triumph across the Tasman Sea in 1985-86.
The fourth day of the opening Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was called off without a ball being bowled yesterday because of rain and a wet outfield.
The two-match series marks Pakistan’s first Tests on home soil since a terrorist attack in 2009 on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore.
The weather-hit opening match has not had full play on any of the four days and not even one innings has been completed since tourists Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat.
Sri Lankan batsman Dhananjaya de Silva will hope play will resume on the final day to allow him to score the 13 additional runs he needs to complete his sixth hundred in Tests.
Dilruwan Perera was not out on six at the other end with the touring side on 282 for six wickets.— Reuters