New Zealand Rocks Australia’s Run Chase in 2nd Test

In an intense battle between New Zealand and Australia in the 2nd Test, New Zealand’s late bowling fireworks have given them the upper hand. At the end of day three, Australia was 202 runs away from victory with six wickets in hand. The visitors, already leading the two-match series 1-0 after their win in Wellington, managed to dismiss the Black Caps for 372 in their second innings.

Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, took 4-62, putting pressure on the New Zealand batsmen. However, the home team’s seamers, Matt Henry and debutant Ben Sears, turned the game around in the final 90 minutes of play. They took two wickets each, dismissing Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, and Cameron Green cheaply.

Despite the setbacks, Australia managed to score at a fair pace and will resume on the fourth day with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head at the crease. They will be looking to chip away at the remaining runs needed for victory. The highest successful fourth-innings run chase at Hagley Oval was 285, achieved by New Zealand against Sri Lanka in a thrilling match last year.

New Zealand opener Tom Latham expressed satisfaction with their performance, stating, “If you’d said at the start of the day that we’d have them four down still 200 runs behind, I think we would have taken that.” He praised the team’s fight with the bat and their excellent bowling effort.

Although several New Zealand batsmen made promising starts in their second innings, none were able to convert them into big scores that could have put the game out of Australia’s reach. Cummins made crucial breakthroughs in the morning session, including the dismissal of dangerman Kane Williamson.

As the match heads into its final stages, both teams will be aiming for a decisive result. New Zealand, eager for a first home win over Australia in 31 years, may regret not setting a target of over 300 runs. The stage is set for an exciting finish to this Test match.