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Bowlers shine as Australia scent victory

Cricket Third Test : Controversial review pegs back Kiwis
Last Updated 28 November 2015, 19:08 IST
 Paceman Josh Hazlewood tore through New Zealand's batsmen to give Australia a sniff of victory within three days after a farcical third umpire decision stole the tourists' momentum during the third Test on Saturday.

Hazlewood shone under the floodlights of Adelaide Oval with three wickets and New Zealand slumped to 116 for five at the close of a roller-coaster day two, hounded by the hooping pink ball of the inaugural day-night Test.

The Black Caps clung precariously to a 94-run lead after 13 wickets tumbled through the course of the day, adding to the 12 that fell on a frenetic day one.

Debutant all-rounder Mitchell Santner (13) and BJ Watling (7) were left to salvage something from the wreckage but New Zealand's hopes of a series-levelling victory looked fraught as darkness descended. Earlier in brilliant sunshine, the tourists had dominated in the field and Australia were on the ropes at 118 for eight, in reply to 202. But third umpire Nigel Llong intervened, thumbing his nose at the decision review technology that strongly suggested spinner Nathan Lyon was out caught in the slips.

A ball from debutant spinner Santner had ricocheted off Lyon's upper arm during an attempted sweep shot and the 'Hot spot' technology showed a mark on his bat.

Though Lyon started walking back to the dressing room, 'Snicko' showed no audio evidence of a nick and Llong's final call after nearly five minutes of deliberation triggered ironic cheers from the crowd of 42,372.

It also cost New Zealand their last review and triggered an astonishing momentum shift as Lyon and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill plundered the bowlers. Lyon smashed Santner for 15 runs and a leg bye in one over before falling for 34. 

Decision condemned

Meanwhile, pundits' condemnations on Llong’s decision were amplified on social media, with former Australia bowler Shane Warne remarking it was wrong and a "ridiculous waste of time".

New Zealand batsman Taylor, mindful of risking his match fee by being too forthright, was nonetheless clear his team felt there was a miscarriage of justice.

"That was one of the discussions that the boys did talk about in the changing room," he told reporters.

"We can understand when the umpires make the wrong decision on the field but once you've got so many different angles and what-not, you think that more often than not, 99 to 100 percent of the time you're going to get the right answer. "I guess we didn't today."

scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (I innings: 202)
AUSTRALIA (I innings, O/n: 54/2)
Burns b Bracewell    14
Warner c Southee b Boult    1
Smith c Watling b Craig    53
Voges c Guptill b Southee    13
Marsh (run out)    2
Marsh c Watling b Bracewell    4
Nevill c Santner b Bracewell    66
Siddle c Latham b Craig    0
Hazlewood b Santner    4
Lyon c Williamson b Boult    34
Starc (not out)    24
Extras (B-5, LB-3, W-1)    9
Total (all out, 72.1 overs)    224
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-34, 3-63, 4-67, 5-80, 6-109, 7-109, 8-116, 9-190.
Bowling: Southee 17-1-50-1, Boult 17-5-41-2, Bracewell 12.1-3-18-3, Santner 16-1-54-1, Craig 10-1-53-2              
NEW ZEALAND (II innings)  
Latham c Nevill b Hazlewood    10
Guptill c Marsh b Hazlewood    17
Williamson c Nevill b Marsh    9
Taylor lbw b Hazlewood    32
McCullum lbw Marsh    20
Santner (batting)    13
Watling (batting)    7
Extras (B-6, LB-2)    8
Total (for 5 wkts, 37 overs)    116
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-32, 3-52, 4-84, 5-98
Bowling: Hazlewood 16-5-32-3, Siddle 10-4-22-0, Marsh 8-0-44-2, Lyon 3-0-10-0.
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(Published 28 November 2015, 19:08 IST)

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