New Zealand defeated their arch-rivals in the Test series to register a drought-proof Test victory after Australia’s weak performance on day three of the second Test.
Matt Henry and debutant Ben Sears smashed Australia’s top order with a score of 279 at Hagley Oval on Sunday The team was outscored 34-4.
Travis Head and Mitch Marsh survived the onslaught but Australia had it all done as they won 77-4 with 203 runs to spare.
New Zealand delivered on their promise on a promising day as they upended Australia’s decades-long trans-Tasman Test dominance in Christchurch on day three.
The Black Caps were 134 for 2, just 40 runs ahead, knowing that a strong second innings total would enable them to beat Australia in a home Test for the first time in 31 years.
Rachin Ravindra (82) and Daryl Mitchell (58) tallied half-centuries, with Tom Latham (73) and Kane Kane Williamson (51) tallied 50 centuries together on Saturday.
Even Scott Kuggeleijn contributed, frustrating the Australian attack with 44 off 49 balls.
New Zealand’s final total of 372 runs in the two-Test series was more than double their previous score with the bat.
Australia’s bowling didn’t penetrate wickets, which improved session by session in Tests.
Pat Cummins bowled eight of the Australian XI, including Marnus Labuschagne, who bowled a short delivery wide of the line in the first ball, earned cheers from the Bronx.
Cummins took 4-62, including the wickets of half-centurion Williamson, Ravindra and Latham.
Nathan Lyon came on late and took 3 of the last 4 wickets to finish with 3-49.
Most of Australia’s wickets came from the edges, with Alex Carey taking 10 catches behind the stumps, an all-time Australian record.
Ravindra led New Zealand from the 11th and extended New Zealand’s lead to three figures by dancing on the wicket and forcing Lyon to a long boundary.
The 24-year-old smashed his own half-century mark with a goal that went straight past Mitch Marsh.
Ravindra was criticized for two ordinary first-innings dismissals in this series but bounced back with second-innings 50s in both Tests.
He combined with Mitchell to score a series-best 123 runs, helping New Zealand to a record of 278-3.
Soon after Australia got the new ball, both fell behind.
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Tom Blundell (9) followed and Marnus Labuschagne dived well at cover, only for the Australian No.3 to be at two off Kuggeleijn Then he was thrown into the cordon of the chute.
Coughlain and Glenn Phillips added another half-century partnership to make Australia’s fourth innings even more difficult.
If the flat pitch gave hope to the Australian bats, Henry and Sears quickly doused it.
Henry shot 7-67 in the first innings and was unavailable at times in the closing nine par at the Botanic Gardens to win the two openers.
The 32-year-old trapped Steve Smith (No. 9) vertically in front while Usman Khawaja (No. 11) was superbly caught by Southee at third slip. Catch it.
In his first Test match, Sears had Labuschagne (6) caught and bowled from the edge of the lead, before Mitchell missed a golden chance at second slip After that, only two goals.
Cameron Green (5) was beaten on pace by Sears and continued racing.
While Marsh and Hyde steadied the ship in the final half-hour, Australia were still a long way from home.
Australia’s defeat will result in a second straight series draw, following last month’s disappointing home series against West Indies.
For New Zealand, it would be to salvage the series at 1-1 and win that elusive success that a generation of New Zealanders have yet to taste.
