Brendon McCullum drew the curtain on his illustrious batting career as a typically pugnacious but short-lived innings on Monday was unable to loosen Australia’s firm grip on the second Test in Christchurch.
On an emotional day when players and fans marked the fifth anniversary of the devastating Christchurch earthquake, the captain’s departure in his 101st and final Test left New Zealand staring down the barrel.
At the end of the third day New Zealand were 121 for four, needing a further 14 to make Australia bat again and with hopes receding of a series-levelling victory.
McCullum arrived for his farewell innings at 72 for three but after 25 off 27 deliveries, the man who hit the fastest ever Test century in the first innings was out.
His second-to-last whack sent Josh Hazlewood for a record-extending 107th six over square leg. But when he danced down the wicket for a repeat shot off the next ball he was caught by David Warner.
It had been a memorable Test for McCullum with a rollicking 145 in the first innings, reaching his century in a record 54 balls, when he defied the accepted rules of cricket by lashing out on a seaming wicket. A magic spell from James Pattinson, when he ripped through New Zealand’s top order, gave Australia a glimpse of victory and a return to the number one world ranking.
Kane Williamson was not out 45 at stumps with Corey Anderson on nine.
The Australians posted a formidable 505 in their first innings for a 135-run lead and New Zealand’s attempt to save the Test and started disastrously when Martin Guptill was caught behind off Pattinson for nought. The Pattinson and gloveman Peter Nevill partnership combined again to dismiss Tom Latham with the young opener making a start but unable to kick on.
Latham reached 33 and despite having time on his side he could not resist dabbing at a ball heading down the leg side and it brushed his glove on the way through to Nevill.
Earlier, a career-best six for 106 by Neil Wagner helped engineer an abrupt end to the Australian innings after they reached 464 for five and lost their last five wickets for 41 in 12 overs. Wagner fired up New Zealand when he removed Australia’s batting goliath Adam Voges in the second over after lunch.
The breakthrough came as a relief to McCullum who went through seven bowlers, including himself, as he searched for the breakthrough in the first session of the day. It was only the eighth time in 12 years of Test cricket he has bowled, sending down four overs for three runs.
score board
New Zealand (I Innings): 370 all out
Australia (I innings, O/n: 363/ 4):
Voges c Latham b Wagner 60
Lyon c McCullum b Williamson 33
Marsh c Nicholls b Wagner 18
Nevill c Watling b Wagner 13
Pattinson c Boult b Anderson 1
Hazlewood c McCullum b Wagner 13
Bird (not out) 4
Extras: (B-9, LB-10) 19
Total (all out, 153.1 overs) 505
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-67, 3-356, 4-357, 5-438, 6-464, 7-483, 8-484, 9-496.
Bowling: Southee 25-4-85-0, Boult 31-5-108-2, Henry 32-8-101-0, Anderson 22-2-66-1, Wagner 32.1-6-106-6, Williamson 7-0-17-1, McCullum 4-2-3-0.
New Zealand (II Innings):
Latham c Nevill b Pattinson 39
Guptill c Nevill b Pattinson 0
Williamson (batting) 45
Nicholls c Smith b Pattinson 2
McCullum c Warner b Hazlewood 25
Anderson (batting) 9
Extras: (NB-1) 1
Total (4 wickets; 44 overs) 121
Fall of wicket: 1-8, 2-66, 3-72, 4-105.
Bowling: Hazlewood 15-5-40-1, Pattinson 12-5-29-3, Bird 7-1-26-0, Lyon 2-0-8-0, Marsh 8-2-18-0 (NB-1).
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