Australia 77-4 in a chase of 279 to win second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch and take the series 2-0; Black Caps need six wickets for first home Test win over Australia since success in Auckland in 1993; tourists were 34-4 before Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head stabilised
Sunday 10 March 2024 13:19, UK
New Zealand's second Test against Australia is set for a thrilling finish after the Black Caps tore through the tourists' top order as they pursue a first home win over their opponents in 31 years.
Australia were 77-4 at stumps on day three in Christchurch, needing a further 202 runs to reach their target of 279 and win the series 2-0 after a 172-run victory in the first Test at Wellington.
Matt Henry (2-37) and Ben Sears (2-22) have given New Zealand hope of a first Test success over Australia on home soil since a five-wicket win in Auckland in 1993 after removing Steve Smith (9), Usman Khawaja (11), Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Cameron Green (5).
Australia were 34-4 at that stage, only for Mitchell Marsh (27no) and Travis Head (17no) to stabilise the Baggy Greens with an unbroken stand of 43 - Marsh striking a first-ball four to avoid any danger of a third straight duck - and leave the game on a knife-edge.
Henry, who claimed seven wickets in Australia's first innings, pinned Smith lbw before Sears caught Labuschagne off his own bowling, two balls after having him dropped at slip by Daryl Mitchell.
When Henry nicked off Khawaja - New Zealand skipper Tim Southee with a superb low catch at slip - and Green chopped Sears onto his stumps, Australia were reeling but Marsh and Head then steadied the visitors.
New Zealand earlier made 372 all out in their second innings, with two batting collapses preventing them from setting Australia a target well in excess of 300.
First, the hosts slipped from 278-3 to 296-6 once Josh Hazlewood ousted Mitchell (58) to end a stand of 143 with Rachin Ravindra (82), before New Zealand lost their last four wicket for 23 runs - and last three for one - from 349-6 as Nathan Lyon (3-49) mopped up.
Australia captain Pat Cummins (4-62) - who had earlier removed Tom Latham (73) - dismissed Ravindra with a super back-of-a-length ball shortly after Mitchell fell, while Tom Blundell (9) then fell cheaply to Green in a wobble of 3-18.
Scott Kuggeleijn (44 off 49) dominated a seventh-wicket partnership of 53 with Glenn Phillips (16) to lift New Zealand but when Phillips was bowled by a beauty from off-spinner Lyon, the innings petered out, with Kuggeleijn last out, skying Lyon to midwicket.
A comical moment in the New Zealand innings came when Labuschagne, usually a part-time leg-spinner, bowled seam, reaching speeds of around 80mph as he sent down bouncers in the final over before the second new ball was taken.
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