Australia crush New Zealand with day to spare in Wellington Test

 

In a Test that will be remembered for two majestic innings by Adam Voges and Usman Khawaja, as well as an umpiring howler, Australia won by an innings and 52 runs.

Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood all shared the spoils as the last six New Zealand wickets fell for 149 on day four.

New Zealand had been set a target of 379 just to get in credit in their second innings after Voges` 239 set up Australia`s first innings of 562.

The recognised New Zealand batsmen made starts, but were unable to turn them into big scores.

After getting to 218-7 it was left to the last three batsmen to add 109 runs. Tim Southee was in a one-day mood with 48 off 23 and Mark Craig contributed an unbeaten 33.

At the top of the order, Tom Latham scored 63 and Henry Nicholls, on debut, added 59 while Martin Guptill made 45 and Kane Williamson 22.

Williamson and BJ Watling are renowned as doughty batsmen capable of occupying the crease for a long time but neither was able to live up to their reputation in the face of a tight bowling attack.

Lyon occupied one end with his off-breaks and the quicks were rotated at the other with a plan for each of the batsmen.Watling has featured in two world-record stands for the sixth wicket at the Basin Reserve in the past two years.

He batted for 510 minutes with Brendon McCullum in a 352-run stand that saved a Test against India in 2014 and last year batted for 479 minutes in an unbeaten 365-run stand with Williamson to beat Sri Lanka.

But he was undone in 40 minutes by Australia when he attempted to cut a Lyon delivery and was beaten by the turn with the ball taking an inside edge to ricochet into the stumps.

Nicholls resumed the day at 31 and won a battle of wits with Hazlewood who fired down a series of good length deliveries, seaming the ball away and tempting the left-hander to chase the shot.

When Nicholls refused to take the bait, Hazlewood switched to a short delivery which was pulled to the square-leg boundary.

Bird eventually claimed the 24-year-old with a good length delivery that bowled him as he tried to turn it to the on side.

Southee and Craig delayed the inevitable, putting on 59 for the ninth wicket.

Lyon finished with four for 91 as the most successful Australian bowler, while Mitchell Marsh took three for 73.

Australia had been in charge of the Test from the time Steve Smith won the toss and New Zealand were out within two sessions on a green-topped wicket.

As the wicket flattened out, Australia were able to score more freely with their cause helped by umpire Richard Illingworth wrongly calling no ball when Voges was bowled by Doug Bracewell on seven.

The 36-year-old went on to make 239 and evoke comparisons with Donald Bradman, while Khawaja added 140 to have New Zealand effectively out of the game after the first innings.

The second Test starts in Christchurch on Saturday and will be the last international for New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. 

New Zealand vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3: Visitors in total control after Adam Voges double ton

At stumps on the third day, New Zealand were 178-4 in their second innings, requiring a further 201 to make Australia bat again.

Test debutant Henry Nicholls was not out 31 with McCullum lbw to Marsh in the final over of the day for 10.

Voges' 239 was in part testament to how docile the pitch had become since New Zealand were rolled for 183 inside two sessions on the first day.

But there were still wickets to be had, as Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood found as they chipped away at the top order.

For New Zealand there were memories of being on the ropes against India at the same ground two years ago and being rescued by McCullum's triple century.

The usually big-hitting captain was showing every sign of looking to dig in for a long stay with his 10 coming off 31 before he was out with three balls remaining in the day.

Martin Guptill (45) and Tom Latham put on 81 for the first wicket, New Zealand's best opening stand against Australia since 1993.

Kane Williamson fell for 22 while Latham grafted away for 63 before he tried to sweep Lyon to the leg side and skied the ball in the opposite direction to Usman Khawaja at mid-off.

It was Voges, though, who ensured Australia had a firm grip on the match.

He resumed the third day at 176 and added a further 63 before his marathon 504 minutes in the middle ended caught and bowled by Mark Craig.

It was 614 runs since he was previously dismissed in the pink-ball Test against New Zealand at Adelaide in November, easily bettering the previous record of 497 between dismissals set by India's Sachin Tendulkar in 2004.

It also settled Voges' Test average at 97.46 from 19 innings, after being ahead of Don Bradman's 99.94 before his wicket fell.

His double century -- coupled with Usman Khawaja's 140 -- also ensured a record first-innings lead for Australia against New Zealand in an innings where six Australians failed to reach double figures.

Latham and Guptill saw off the new ball but when they looked comfortable and settled, Guptill tried to smack off- spinner Lyon out of the ground and was caught by Marsh.

Hazlewood, Australia's chief destroyer in the first innings, tempted Williamson to prod at a ball outside off and it was nicked through to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

It was a chance for Nevill to make amends after he had dropped Latham when the opener was on 31.

A huge deficit is a situation New Zealand know well at the Basin Reserve, where they request a green wicket to suit their strike bowlers. But if they lose the toss, the advantage goes to the opposition.

Two years ago it required McCullum's 302 to secure a draw against India after New Zealand trailed by 246 on the first innings.

Last year New Zealand were 135 behind Sri Lanka after the first innings and ended up winning by 193 after Williamson (242 n.o.) and Watling (142 n.o.) put on 365 for the sixth wicket in the second innings and Mark Craig spun Sri Lanka out on day five.  

New Zealand vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2: Adam Voges, Usman Khawaja tons put visitors in command

Australia were 463-6, heading New Zealand by 280 on the first innings at stumps on the second day.

Khawaja was out for a classic 140 and Voges, given a life on seven, was unbeaten on 176.

The 36-year-old Voges, in his 19th Test innings, saw his Test average rise to more than 100, bettering Don Bradman's 99.94 from an 80-innings career.

Voges has scored centuries in his last three innings, posting 269 runs not out and an unbeaten 106 against the West Indies in December.

The combined total of 551 overtakes the previous record of 497 runs between dismissals held by Sachin Tendulkar.

For his part, since his recall to the Australian side last year Khawaja has averaged 128.80 from six innings which include four centuries.

The single highlight of the day was a stunning caught and bowled by Trent Boult to dismiss Mitchell Marsh, but that occupied a split second on a day where the bat otherwise dominated.

Voges and Khawaja's firm grip on the game in a 168-run stand for the fourth wicket left New Zealand with few moments to relish on a day of toil under the baking sun.

It was a sublime partnership that lasted 50 overs and offered few chances.

BJ Watling missed a stumping opportunity when Khawaja was on 34 and Mark Craig was confident with an lbw appeal that was turned down when Khawaja was on 104.

A review showed the ball would have grazed the outside of leg stump and the umpire's original not out decision remained.

Voges had his moment of luck in the last over on day one when he was bowled by Doug Bracewell, only for umpire Richard Illingworth to wrongly call the delivery a no ball.

Since then, Voges has added 169 runs in an innings that has lasted 286 deliveries and includes 26 boundaries.

Boult hinted a fightback for New Zealand was possible with two wickets in three balls during the middle session on Saturday to remove Khawaja and Marsh and have Australia 299-5.

But the euphoria in the New Zealand camp quickly disappeared as they laboured through another 27 overs and 96 runs before Peter Nevill was the next wicket to fall.

Boult outsmarted Khawaja by bowling wide of the crease and as the left-handed batsman shaped to turn the ball to the on-side it straightened and slammed into the back pad.

Marsh was out to a spectacular catch off the second ball he faced when he drove hard at a Boult delivery, and the left-arm paceman flung himself high to his right to snare the ball in his right hand.

Boult's reaction time was measured at 0.594 of a second.

Australia had resumed the day on 147-3 and added 91, 92 and 133 in each of the three sessions on a flattening pitch.

NZ vs Aus, 1st Test, Day 2: Adam Voges breaks Sachin Tendulkar's 12-year-old world record

The right-hander's unbeaten knock of 176 runs comprised of 26 boundaries, with several records tumbling during his 286-ball stay at the crease.

Courtesy his 5th Test ton, the Aussie veteran went past 500 consecutive runs without being dismissed.

In doing so, he bettered master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's 12-year-old record of 497 runs without being dismissed from January to April 2004.

With three tons on the trot, the 36-year-old has now averages more than 100 from 19 innings.

However, Voges owes a thank you card to umpire Richard Illingworth whose howler handed the batsman a life line on Day 1.

The incident occurred in the final over on Friday when Doug Bracewell clean bowled Voges who shouldered his arms, misjudging the line of the delivery.

But the on-field umpire Richard Illingworth signaled a no-ball, handing the right-hander a lifeline.

Replays clearly showed that the pacer's delivery was legal since his heel was just on the line.

Annoyed by the umpiring error, Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum was seen having a chat with Illingworth when the day's play ended.

Voges was batting on seven at the time.