Brendon McCullum fell on the stroke of stumps to leave New Zealand in a dire position after a day in which Adam Voges soared to his second double-century of the southern summer
The Report by Daniel Brettig13-Feb-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAdam Voges struck his second double-century of the southern summer•Getty Images
Brendon McCullum fell on the stroke of stumps to leave New Zealand in a dire position after a day in which Adam Voges soared to his second double-century of the southern summer and Australia’s bowlers worked diligently to find a way through New Zealand’s top order, on a docile pitch at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.Mitchell Marsh’s knack for taking important wickets was enhanced when McCullum was pinned in front in the final over, the umpire Richard Kettleborough giving the decision after a moment’s deliberation. McCullum’s referral was somewhat forlorn, much as New Zealand’s prospects for saving the match now appear.Australia’s last five wickets had added 263 in total, leaving the hosts with an enormous task to save McCullum’s 100th Test. Martin Guptill, Tom Latham and Kane Williamson all made starts but were teased out by excellent spells from Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, leaving Henry Nicholls in terse occupation of the crease at stumps.During his half-century Latham was fortunate to have survived an edge off Marsh’s bowling, which the wicketkeeper Peter Nevill failed to clasp when diving across in front of Steven Smith at slip. Otherwise the Australians were exemplary, bowling in partnerships and frustrating Guptill and Latham into unwise attacks on Lyon.New Zealand had managed to round up the Australian tail before lunch but only after Voges sailed on through to a supremely efficient 239, a score that left his Test batting average at an eye-popping 97.46 after 19 completed innings.One point of interest about the morning’s play was that all four wickets fell to catches in front of the wicket, including Corey Anderson’s stunning return-catch to dismiss Lyon. Four caught and bowled dismissals for the innings equalled the Test record.Peter Siddle and Voges had started the day in a positive vein, working the ball around with the occasional boundary as their stand took on impressive proportions, notwithstanding one blow on the helmet for Siddle when he ducked into a Trent Boult bouncer. The partnership was worth 99 and Siddle 49 when he pushed Doug Bracewell to mid-on.Hazlewood played a handsome cover drive before trying to repeat the shot and spooning a catch, but Lyon hung around long enough to watch Voges reach 200, courtesy of an obliging full toss from Mark Craig. Lyon’s exit via Anderson’s acrobatics left time for an entertaining last pairing before Voges finally succumbed, 614 runs after his last dismissal.Latham and Guptill negotiated one over before the interval, and showed good intent to score when play resumed. Guptill was particularly expansive, swatting Siddle for a trio of boundaries, and a swift half-century stand was raised.However the introductions of Marsh and Lyon brought some different questions, with faint traces of reverse-swing evident. Latham reached out to drive at Marsh and edged, only for Nevill to react slightly late and not quite get the ball in the middle of his left glove. It was the first chance of note the keeper had missed in his brief Test career so far.Guptill was itching to get at Lyon, but like so many batsmen before him, underestimated the spinner’s flight, drift and drop. A ball arcing away drew a skier from the outer part of the bat, and Marsh did exceptionally well to hold the catch as he ran with the flight.Williamson made a typically sturdy start to his innings before tea arrived, but on resumption was pinned down by Hazlewood, who pursued a most disciplined line around off stump with subtle movement either way. Having taken 23 balls for his first 20, Williamson was becalmed so much that when he touched another fine delivery running away from him, he departed for 22 in 44 deliveries.Latham had also slowed down somewhat, and Lyon duly tempted him with an artfully flighted ball. It dipped and dropped in advance of Latham, who carried through with his shot and was well taken by Usman Khawaja, making good ground from mid-off to claim the catch.McCullum came out with steely intent, eschewing most of his usual flourishes, and had a moments’ fortune when he edged Lyon barely wide of Steven Smith. But the last over would bring the lbw verdict, and a deflating departure for the captain.
