Australia defeat New Zealand in the 3rd Test match to clinch series 2-0
Australia defeated New Zealand in the first ever day-night Test match by 3 wickets in Adelaide and won the Trans-Tasman series 2-0. The match finished on the third day with a total of 12 wickets falling on the final day of the match.
New Zealand started the day at 116 for the loss of five wickets with Santner and Watling on the crease after the end of the second day. Things did not start well for the Kiwis as Hazlewood ousted Watling on the ninth ball of the day.
Mark Craig was the next to walk in, but he was another Hazlewood victim who bagged six wickets in the second innings. Doug Bracewell tried to construct a partnership with Santner, but the latter got out stumped on a Nathan Lyon delivery. The Blackcaps finished with 208 runs on the board, leaving Australia with a target of 187 runs.
The opening pair of Warner and Burns walked in to help Australia create history by winning the first ever D/N test match. Though, Trent Boult had different ideas as he wrecked havoc on the Kangaroo batting line up from the word go.
After catching Burns leg before in the sixth over, the pacy bowler bagged the wickets of Steven Smith as well. David Warner lost his wicket with 66 runs on the board, and with the ball swinging quite a lot under the lights, things looked difficult for the Australian side.
Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh added 49 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the ship for Australia. Voges fell to Boult as well, after which the Marsh brothers added another 46 runs to take Australia nearer to the target.
Mitchell was the first to go amongst the two and later Shaun fell as well, just one run behind his half century. Only 11 runs were needed after that for the Aussies to win the match, but they nearly made a mess out of it.
Watling took a brilliant catch behind the wickets to dismiss Peter Neville off a Boult delivery, who completed his five wickets haul. Peter Siddle scored the winning runs for Australia and confirmed the victory for his team.
Earlier, the Kiwis posted a total of 202 in the first innings, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood bagging three wickets each and Tom Latham being the highest scorer for Kiwis with 50 runs.
The Australian innings was not much different as they managed 224 runs in their first innings and lead New Zealand by 22 runs. Smith and Neville scored half-centuries and Doug Bracewell got three wickets.
No other batsman was able to get the half-century in the second innings for both the team, which were dominated by both the fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood for Australia and then Boult for New Zealand. Siddle got the 200th wicket of his test career in the first innings of the Test match.