Catch up on all of the action from day three at Hagley Oval:
STUMPS: Australia 77-4, trailing New Zealand by 201 runs
Well, what a day of Test cricket we were treated to! 12 wickets fell during the day – you’d have to conclude it was a bowlers’ day out there. Cummins was at his brilliant best with the ball and Lyon’s contribution late in the innings was vital to clean up New Zealand’s tail and stop their lead from getting out of control.
Australia would have seen 279 as a very achievable target, but after losing four quick wickets this afternoon, some of that confidence will have waned. New Zealand were in the driver’s seat after those four wickets fell, but Marsh and Head have just leaned over from the passenger seat and started to take the wheel with a good fightback late in the day. Both started fairly aggressively, before tapping the brakes closer to stumps and slowing things down, aware of the importance of not losing another wicket today.
From here the game is anyone’s. It will be a tough slog for Australia, but they have a winning mindset and will definitely see it as possible. New Zealand needs wickets, but if Henry and Sears can keep bowling the way they did today, with the support of Southee and Phillips to give them a break and not leak too many runs, they can definitely get this win.
New Zealand have not beaten Australia at home for 31 years, so there is plenty of motivation for this team to finish this match off and come away with the win. We are poised for a huge day of play tomorrow – make sure you join us here and don’t miss a minute of the action!
