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AFP
Perth (Australia)
Australia were in a commanding position despite a late batting collapse on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand at Perth Stadium on Saturday.
Having led by 250 runs on the first innings, the home side were 167 for six at stumps, with Matthew Head on eight and Pat Cummins on one -- an overall lead of 417.
Cruising at 131 for one when Marnus Labuschagne (50) and Joe Burns (53) were at the crease, the Australians lost five for 29 under lights later in the day against some spirited short-pitched bowling from the Kiwis, with Tim Southee claiming 4-63.
Burns said the Australians were not too concerned by losing the late wickets.
“Really happy with where we are at, although it was disappointing to lose a few wickets tonight,” he said.
“In the grand scheme of the game we’re in a good position and in control of the game.”
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor said the fightback late in the day could prove important, regardless of the result of this match.
Labuschagne, dropped on four by Colin de Grandhomme from the bowling of Neil Wagner (2-40), missed the chance to join elite company when he pulled a short ball straight to Mitchell Santner at mid-wicket from the same bowler.
Without a Test century only a month ago, he was on track to become just the second Australian batsman, and fifth overall, to score four Test centuries in succession.
The only Australian to do so previously was Jack Fingleton in 1936.ScoreboardAustralia (1st innings): 416
New Zealand (1st innings):
J. Raval b Hazlewood 1
T. Latham c and b Starc 0
K. Williamson c Smith b Starc 34
R. Taylor c Smith b Lyon 80
H. Nicholls c Paine b Starc 7
N. Wagner b Starc 0
BJ. Watling b Cummins 8
C. de Grandhomme c Smith b Starc 23
M. Santner b Labuschagne 2
T. Southee c sub (Neser) b Lyon 8
Extras (b1, lb2) 3
Total (all out; 55.2 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Latham), 2-1 (Raval), 3-77 (Williamson), 4-97 (Nicholls), 5-97 (Wagner), 6-120 (Watling), 7-147 (Taylor), 8-155 (de Grandhomme), 9-166 (Santner), 10-166 (Southee).
Bowling: Starc 18-2-52-5, Hazlewood 1.2-1-0-1, Cummins 14.4-3-46-1, Wade 2-0-8-0, Lyon 14.2-2-48-2, M Labuschagne 5-1-9-1
Australia (2nd innings):
D. Warner c sub (Blundell) b Southee 19
J. Burns c Nicholls b Southee 53
M. Labuschagne c Santner b Wagner 50
S. Smith c Raval b Wagner 16
M. Wade not out 8
T. Head c de Grandhomme b Southee 5
T. Paine b Southee 0
P. Cummins not out 1
Extras (lb3, nb5, w7) 15
TotalcTypeface:> (six wickets: 57 overs) 167
Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Warner), 2-131 (Labuschagne), 3-148 (Burns), 4-154 (Smith), 5-160 (Head), 6-160 (Paine)
Bowling: Southee 19-6-63-4 (3w), de Grandhomme 13-2-26-0 (1w, 2nb), Wagner 17-2-40-2 (3w, 3nb), Santner 8-0-35-0
Toss: Australia
Perth (Australia)
Australia were in a commanding position despite a late batting collapse on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand at Perth Stadium on Saturday.
Having led by 250 runs on the first innings, the home side were 167 for six at stumps, with Matthew Head on eight and Pat Cummins on one -- an overall lead of 417.
Cruising at 131 for one when Marnus Labuschagne (50) and Joe Burns (53) were at the crease, the Australians lost five for 29 under lights later in the day against some spirited short-pitched bowling from the Kiwis, with Tim Southee claiming 4-63.
Burns said the Australians were not too concerned by losing the late wickets.
“Really happy with where we are at, although it was disappointing to lose a few wickets tonight,” he said.
“In the grand scheme of the game we’re in a good position and in control of the game.”
New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor said the fightback late in the day could prove important, regardless of the result of this match.
Labuschagne, dropped on four by Colin de Grandhomme from the bowling of Neil Wagner (2-40), missed the chance to join elite company when he pulled a short ball straight to Mitchell Santner at mid-wicket from the same bowler.
Without a Test century only a month ago, he was on track to become just the second Australian batsman, and fifth overall, to score four Test centuries in succession.
The only Australian to do so previously was Jack Fingleton in 1936.ScoreboardAustralia (1st innings): 416
New Zealand (1st innings):
J. Raval b Hazlewood 1
T. Latham c and b Starc 0
K. Williamson c Smith b Starc 34
R. Taylor c Smith b Lyon 80
H. Nicholls c Paine b Starc 7
N. Wagner b Starc 0
BJ. Watling b Cummins 8
C. de Grandhomme c Smith b Starc 23
M. Santner b Labuschagne 2
T. Southee c sub (Neser) b Lyon 8
Extras (b1, lb2) 3
Total (all out; 55.2 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Latham), 2-1 (Raval), 3-77 (Williamson), 4-97 (Nicholls), 5-97 (Wagner), 6-120 (Watling), 7-147 (Taylor), 8-155 (de Grandhomme), 9-166 (Santner), 10-166 (Southee).
Bowling: Starc 18-2-52-5, Hazlewood 1.2-1-0-1, Cummins 14.4-3-46-1, Wade 2-0-8-0, Lyon 14.2-2-48-2, M Labuschagne 5-1-9-1
Australia (2nd innings):
D. Warner c sub (Blundell) b Southee 19
J. Burns c Nicholls b Southee 53
M. Labuschagne c Santner b Wagner 50
S. Smith c Raval b Wagner 16
M. Wade not out 8
T. Head c de Grandhomme b Southee 5
T. Paine b Southee 0
P. Cummins not out 1
Extras (lb3, nb5, w7) 15
TotalcTypeface:> (six wickets: 57 overs) 167
Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Warner), 2-131 (Labuschagne), 3-148 (Burns), 4-154 (Smith), 5-160 (Head), 6-160 (Paine)
Bowling: Southee 19-6-63-4 (3w), de Grandhomme 13-2-26-0 (1w, 2nb), Wagner 17-2-40-2 (3w, 3nb), Santner 8-0-35-0
Toss: Australia
