Published: Feb 23, 2016, 05:07 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 24, 2016, 12:08 AM (IST)
New Zealand have a had perfect start to Day 4 as Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson play put a disciplined Australian attack. With a bit of cloud cover early on Steven Smith would have chanced his bowlers to pick wickets but that was not be as Williamson and Anderson played out 29 overs making 76 runs . Starting his innings on 45 runs, Williamson wasted not time in getting up to his 19th Test fifty as the hosts lead went past Australia’s lead of 135 runs. Williamson has been lucky, with as many as 2 catches being dropped or missed by an inch. Williamson has been ably supported by Anderson who as added 26 runs to his overnight score off 9. Going into lunch New Zealand are at 197 for 4, having an overall lead of 62 runs over Australia with Williamson and Anderson on 86* and 35* respectively. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd Test at Christchurch
Australian bowlers must have felt unlucky through-out the session with batsmen missing wicket taking deliveries. Their were few decisions which were helped by Decision Review System (DRS).i.e first one was when Anderson was given out off James Pattison by on-field umpire, upon reviewing it was cleanly seen that the ball had taken a huge nick before hitting the pad. Second one during the dying moment of the session just an over before lunch , when Hazlewood bowled a absolutely perfect swinging yorker which hit Williamson who was given not-out, only to be challenged by Smith.
Reply showed conclusive evidence that their was a slight bottom edge before hitting the pad. After the umpire’s decision proved right Smith and Hazlewood was seen taking out their frustration on the on-field umpire. Both Williamson and Anderson have survived 29 overs this morning making 76 runs in the process. Their partnership has now flourished to 92* runs for the fifth wicket. Also note this is the second most number of ball Anderson has faced coming just below the 179 balls faced against Bangladesh. A special mention to Nathan Lyon who has toiled hard this session, only to remain wicket-less, as his intriguing contest with Anderson set to resume post-lunch. Williamson in this innings also became the quickest to 4,000 runs for New Zealand in terms of innings taken (89th), surpassing Martin Crowe’s 93 innings mark.
Brief Scores:
New Zealand 370 (Brendon McCullum 145, Nathan Lyon 3 for 61) and 121 for 4 ( Kane Williamson 89* , James Pattinson 3 for 46) lead Australia 505 (Joe Burns 170, Steven Smith 138; Neil Wagner 6 for 106) by 62 runs.
FULL SCORECARD: New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd Test at Christchurch
