Twin tons from Taylor and Williamson bring New Zealand back
Centuries from Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, who were involved in New Zealand’s all-time highest Test partnership against Australia, brought the visitors back into the game on day three of the second Test at the WACA. Taylor finished the day unbeaten on 235, while Williamson was dismissed for 166 as the Kiwis ended the day on 510/6.
After navigating through a tricky first session, the pair piled on the misery for the hosts, who were given a taste of their own medicine on a lifeless pitch. The Aussies however, didn’t help their own cause as they dropped both Taylor and Brendon McCullum off Mitchell Starc.
Starc was undoubtedly the pick of the Aussie bowlers, as he not only picked up two wickets, but also clocked the second-fastest ball in the history of Test cricket, when he bowled a 160.4 kmph yorker to Taylor, who kept out the ball.
While Starc’s spell of fiery fast bowling was certainly one of the finest that the game has ever seen, the day belonged to the Kiwis. Especially the pair of Taylor and Williamson whose 265-run third wicket partnership ensured that the Kiwis now have a chance of not just salvaging the game, but perhaps even winning it.
When Williamson was finally dismissed by a slower bouncer from Josh Hazlewood, the score had already crossed 350. It was then that Starc unleashed thunderbolts at both McCullum and Taylor, who did really well to not fall for it.
Even on the occasions they did, the Aussie fielders ensured that no wicket fell as first McCullum on 5, then Taylor on 137 were both dropped in the slip cordon. The skipper, who had lived a charmed life was finally bowled by Mitchell Marsh.
After his dismissal, it looked as though Australia might still take a healthy lead, but Doug Bracewell, then Mark Craig gave Taylor company as he compiled his career-best Test score.
Although Starc came back for a final spell towards the end of the day, he was spent and the Kiwi batsmen saw him off easily, to ensure they completed an entire day of domination, the first time they have done so, in this series.
Scorecard:
Aus 1st innings: 559/9 dec
NZ 1st innings:
| Martin Guptill | 1 (5) |
| Tom Latham | 36 (85) |
| Kane Williamson | 166 (250) |
| Ross Taylor | 235* (308) |
| Brendon McCullum | 27 (54) |
| BJ Watling | 1 (12) |
| Doug Bracewell | 12 (40) |
| Mark Craig | 7* (23) |
| Total | 510/6 |
Bowling:
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | |
| Mitchell Starc | 30 | 83 | 2 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 27 | 98 | 1 |
| Mitchell Johnson | 24 | 131 | 1 |
| Nathan Lyon | 29 | 93 | 1 |
| Mitchell Marsh | 15 | 73 | 1 |
| Steven Smith | 3 | 15 | 0 |