To win the Christchurch Test, Australia needed another 202 runs, while New Zealand required 6 wickets. The day’s play began under such circumstances.
Adding just 3 runs to the previous day’s score, Travis Head lost his wicket to Ajaz. While debutant Kerr dreams of a good start, the partnership between Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh proved fantastic. Both played at a steady pace but didn’t miss opportunities to score boundaries.
New Zealand got the breakthrough after exactly 27 overs. Mitchell Marsh returned to the pavilion after scoring 80 runs. Ben Sears then dismissed Mitchell Starc with the next ball. Despite losing a couple of wickets after reaching 220 runs, the Kiwis still had confidence. However, Cummins came and disrupted all their plans.
Cummins’ 32 runs off 44 balls were crucial in securing a big lead for Australia. On the other end, Carey remained unbeaten on 98 runs till the end. Australia had turned the tide with a remarkable batting turnaround the previous day. The player of the match award also ended up in his hands.
Even after winning this match, Australia still needs to remain in contention for the World Test Championship. Their slow over rate has cost them 10 points, and they are lagging behind in the standings. New Zealand, with 3 wins out of 5 matches, is currently in the top two.
