- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia have defeated New Zealand in the Test at Adelaide Oval on the third day, and claimed a 2-0 series win to retain the Trans-Tasman Cup.
REPORT: AUSTRALIA VICTORIOUS AS MARSH PROVES HIS WORTH
Josh Hazlewood was named man of the match for his nine wickets, six of them in the second innings in the absence of Mitch Starc, but it was a much-maligned member of Australia’s batting order who turned heads on the final day.
Shaun Marsh had a knock of 49 runs that proved to be a turning point for the Australian batting order as he built solid partnerships with both Adam Voges and brother Mitch that helped Australia into a winning position.
Mitch Starc again played through the pain to take his part in the batting order, and it was he and Peter Siddle who ran for the final two runs that gave Australia the win.
Final Scores
Australia 224 and 7/187 def.
New Zealand 202 and 208
The third day of the third cricket Test match will see Australia and New Zealand slug it out under the lights in Adelaide. Join The Roar‘s for live scores and commentary from 2pm (AEDT).
Batting hasn’t been easy at the Adelaide Oval so far, definitely not as easy as it was in the first two Tests of the series.
The green on the pitch and extra zip the bowlers have been able to extract from the surface under the lights have made life difficult for the batsmen and the Test has moved at a rather rapid pace.
Two days on, 25 wickets have fallen and New Zealand are just ahead by 94 runs having lost half their side in the second innings.
What makes matters worse for New Zealand is their top-order is back into the pavilion. Come Day 3, there won’t be any of Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum or Kane Williamson to bail them out of their troubles – it will be left to their lower-order to do all the fighting.
It was a mixed Day 2 for New Zealand.
They would have been happy to restrict Australia to just a 22-run lead, but with the hosts at 8-116 at one stage, their final score of 224 would hurt.
What would hurt more is the Nathan Lyon decision that went against them.
Lyon was given not out to a caught appeal, New Zealand reviewed the decision and on replays Hot Spot showed a clear edge. Unfortunately for New Zealand, there was nothing on the RTS – real-time Snickometer – and the third umpire refused to overrule the on-field decision.
The pair added 72 runs after that and coming at a time when New Zealand would have been busy with thoughts of batting again with a healthy lead, it was a cruel blow.
A thwack-a-minute by Mitchell Starc helped add a further 34 for the final wicket with Peter Nevill, who fought out with a 50 of his own.
New Zealand could have still sealed a good day’s play but fell to the seam and swing of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh, both of whom shared the five wickets.
In the absence of the injured Starc, Hazlewood rocked the top-order with the wickets of both openers and later returned to send back the man in form, Taylor. Marsh had McCullum lbw after Williamson had fished at a delivery outside the off to offer a simple catch to the keeper.
New Zealand will be hoping to push their lead up to 200 from here on. Yet not only will that be difficult for the lower-order, but the question will then be whether it’s enough.
It might not be a high-scoring game and the spinners could slowly come into their own on Day 3 – it’s already turning a bit. But New Zealand do need to get some runs on the board for their bowlers.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2pm (AEDT) on Sunday and post your comments in the section below.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.