AUS 70/1 | Live Cricket Score, New Zealand vs Australia 2015-16, Day 4 of 2nd Test at Christchurch: Australia require 131 at stumps on Day 4

Good Morning! Hello and Welcome to CricketCountry’s live coverage of Day 4 of the second and final Test match between hosts New Zealand and visitors Australia of the 2015-16 Trans-Tasman Trophy at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Tuesday. We from CricketCountry will be bringing to you the live updates of all the cricketing action for this all-important match. It has been a high scoring encounter with New Zealand  posting a humongous 370 in the first innings after being asked to bat first by Australia. The visitors then replied with a mammoth 505. However, New Zealand were not able to repeat their first innings performance in the second and were reduced to 121 for the loss of four wickets by stumps at the end of the first day’s play.  LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd Test at Christchurch

Live Cricket Score, Australia 70/1 in 20 overs | Target 201  | Batting: Joe Burns 27 (68), Usman Khawaja 19 (23): And that ends the innings for Australia on Day4. They seem to be in control of the game after a wicket down. Australia require 131 runs to win and Day 5 could twists the game and probably New Zealand get more wickets and get Australia all out to level the series, or Australia could win the game and gain the No.1 spot in Test rankings.

Live Cricket Score, Australia 69/1 in 19 overs | Target 201  | Batting: Joe Burns 26 (64), Usman Khawaja 19 (21): Australia are crusing through the innings after Warner’s wicket. Burns has already shown his potentials with 170 runs in 1st innings, while Usman Khawaja has come in and is 20 runs up already. New Zealand require more wickets and are bowling restricting Australia timely.

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Live Cricket Score, Australia 50/1 in 13 overs | Target 201  | Batting: Joe Burns 25 (48), Usman Khawaja 1 (1): And New Zealand get their much awaited wicket of David Warner. Neil Wgner strikes once again after his best performance on Day 3. New Zealand require more these in every over. Usman Khawaja is the new batsman to enter. And it is 50 up for Australia on Day 4. Wagner had to appeal for the wicket of Warner and McCullum felt it was definitely a wicket. OUT! David Warner c BJ Watling b Neil Wagner 22(33)

Live Cricket Score, Australia 39/0 in 8 overs | Target 201  | Batting: Joe Burns 19 (29), David Warner 19 (22): Australia begin their innings and no wickets down yet. Joe Burns and David Warner begin the innings for Australia batsmen. While New Zealand are finding it difficult to get the right wicket and are giving away runs. Australia are looking for an early finish here.

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 335 in 111.1 overs | Lead 200 | Batting: Neil Wagner 3 (13): That wraps up the innings for New Zealand, Jack Brid strikes again and picks yet another wicket of Trent Boult. This is 5th wicket and he is in for a roll for sure. New Zealand have posed a lead of 200 runs. It is now turn for Australia to show their batting skills once again or will be Neil Wagner shining with his spells once again like the previous innings. New Zealand have a task on hand to level this series and win it for McCullum. OUT! Trent Boult c James Pattinson b Jackson Bird 0(5)

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 335/9 in 109.2 overs | Lead 200 | Batting: Neil Wagner 3 (8): James Pattinson strikes again and off goes BJ Watling for 48. Just when New Zealand were building partnership, Australia strike once again. Neil Wagner comes to crease to bat. Finally New Zealand get a lead of 200 runs. Australia restricting the runs conceded to New Zealand and giving away just one or two runs. And off goes Matt Henry as well. Looks like the innings for New Zealand is coming to an end. This time it is Jackson Bird who gets the big wicket. Australia will be very happy to bring back the momentum to their side. OUT! BJ Watling c Burns b Pattinson 46(77), OUT! Matt Henry b Bird 66(93)

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 323/7 in 105 overs | Lead 188 | Batting: Matt Henry 57 (83), BJ Watling 48 (70): Back from tea and Henry goes for a classic boundary to get his maiden half-century. Watling is still two runs away from half-century. Great game for these two players from batsmen. New Zealand high lead runs in order to make it difficult for Australia.

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 311/7 in 102 overs | Lead 176 | Batting: Matt Henry 45 (72), BJ Watling 48 (63): And it is tea time. New Zealand bounced back well after loss of Kane Williamson for 97. Matt Henry is approaching his maiden half-century while Watling will go for second consecutive half-century in 2nd Test. They are leading with high runs and need to put more score on board to level this series.

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 280/7 in 94 overs | Lead 145 | Batting: Matt Henry 32(20), BJ Watling 32(22): Both Matt Henry and BJ Watling have been frustrating the Australian with their resistance, as they score runs at will. Henry so far has hit 7 boundaries where as Watling has hit 5 boundaries so far, Both Hazlewood and Pattinson have been taken to the rafters. Both have added 71 runs in just as many balls.
Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 242/7 in 88 overs | Lead 107 | Batting: Matt Henry 12(20), BJ Watling 15(22): Drinks! Josh Hazlewood is like a robot  bowls another miser over, or rather maiden over.  FOUR! another boundary down the third man region, nothing convincing by BJ Walting so far still costs Pattinson 6 runs.  FOUR! James Pattinson gives a boundary as Matt Henry gets off the mark as the over costs just 4 runs. FOUR! A rare boundary off Jackson Bird.BJ Watling gets off the mark as Bird looks to pick up another two to complete a fifer. James Pattinson bowled a a rather expensive one last over giving away just 5 runs.
Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 210/7 in 81 overs | Lead 81 | Batting:  BJ Watling : OUT! Another one falls victim to the New Ball as Jackson Bird picks up his third wicket of this session. Tim Southee goes for zero. NEW BALL taken and it comes into play as KANE Williamson goes for 97 runs. Superb swinging delivery by Jackson Bird to clean up the Williamson. One over left before Australia take the new ball as James Pattinson comes into the attack, giving just one run in that over. Superb wicket maiden over by Jackson Bird comes to an end. BJ Watling comes down into the middle to support Kane Williamson.

Williamson, head bowed, dragging his bat behind him as he walked off for 97. He knew. @abcgrandstand #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/41xtad2k02

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) February 23, 2016

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 207/5 in 78.3 overs | Lead 72  | Batting: Kane Williamson 94 (204), BJ Watling : OUT!! Jackson Bird it is , as Corey Anderson in a bid to drive manages to chop one on to his stumps. He goes for a well made 40.

Anderson chops on a Bird delivery, ending a 102-run partnership https://t.co/kecCPykpwr #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/5zlKi3YrOj

— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) February 23, 2016

  Finally one run after couple of maiden overs on the trot, Lyon is seeming so McGrath like. Jackson brings in his second maiden over after lunch  as Williamson sits on 94* as he swings as misses a wide one. Nathan Lyon has continued to bowl absolute rippers, only to be spoiled by Corey Anderson who hits a neat push towards the mid-wicket for a four. With this Anderson and Williamson bring up their 100 run stand as well.

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 202/4 in 75 overs | Lead 67  | Batting: Kane Williamson 94 (198), Corey Anderson 35 (133):  Jackson Bird to start from the other end after lunch, gives nothing to the batsmen, first maiden after lunch. Neat over by Nathan Lyon first up after lunch as Kane Williamson goes into his 90’s with Corey Anderson pushes towards his half-century. Lunch Report: HERE

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 197/4 in 73 overs | Lead 62  | Batting: Kane Williamson 89 (190), Corey Anderson 35 (129): LUNCH! Event full last over before lunch as Steven Smith dishes out his frustration on umpire. Replay showed that Williamson had just managed to get a bottom edge on to the pas as Hazlewood appealed for an LBW. Josh Hazlewood coming into the attack replacing Mitchell Marsh, lovely ball third ball , cleans up Corey Anderson who only misses an edge, gives just two runs from it.

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 185/4 in 68 overs | Lead 50  | Batting: Kane Williamson 86 (155), Corey Anderson 26 (74): ONE RUN! Corey Anderson daps on on the leg side for a single as the New Zealand extends to 50 runs. Just short as the replay suggests the ball was just inches away from keeper’s glove.

Williamson’s edge drops just short of Nevill.Could he have got his gloves under it? https://t.co/kecCPykpwr #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/fRh0v2CpLi

— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) February 22, 2016

Usman Khawaja going off the field as Glenn Maxwell comes in. Nathan Lyon comes into bowl the 66th over, managing to get some drift in the air, manages to bowl another maiden. Josh Hazlewood comes back into the attack replacing Mitchell Marsh, lovely ball third ball , cleans up Corey Anderson who only misses an edge, gives just two runs from it. Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 176/4 in 62 overs | Lead 41  | Batting: Kane Williamson 80 (155), Corey Anderson 23 (74): Lyon is taken for 5 runs in the 62 over.This time is Marsh who gives adds a maiden over to the total. Nathan Lyon bowls another miser over giving nothing away, New Zealand have not scored for 15 balls now. Back after drinks and Mitchell Marsh giving just 3 runs from it. This partnership is now worth 71* runs. Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 168/4 in 58 overs | Lead 33  | Batting: Kane Williamson 75 (155), Corey Anderson 22 (74): DRINKS Nathan Lyon comes into the attack as Corey Anderson plays out an maiden over. FOUR! back to back boundaries for Kane Williamson as Bird gets hit for plenty giving away 8 runs. FOUR! Mitchell Marsh misses out on a tough return catch , as Kane Williamson goes past the 4,000 career run mark in Tests for New Zealand. Good over from Jackson Bird gives just 1 run from the 55th over.  Bird comes into bowl, replaces James Pattinson. Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 150/4 in 53.3 overs | Lead 15  | Batting: Kane Williamson 57 (139), Corey Anderson 22 (63): 150! up for New Zealand as Kane Williamson tap the ball for a single or did Joe Burns miss out on a catch. FOUR! Leg-byes as Pattinson comes into bowl the 54th over. Another terrific over by Josh Hazlewood, giving just 4 runs. FOUR! Lucky boundary as outside edge gets dropped by Mitchell Marsh at gully, Anderson again. Not-Out! Review goes in favour of the batsman as replay shows the ball hitting the bat first, Anderson survives as Pattinson makes him play every ball.

Incredibly tough chance for Burns at short leg. But still…it’s a chance. https://t.co/kecCPykpwr #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/cHGmRFKxoL — FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) February 22, 2016

This was originally given not out. Australia reviewed. It remains NOT OUT. https://t.co/kecCPykpwr #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/M42lfn3B2V — FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) February 22, 2016

Good over by Josh Hazlewood, another maiden added to the morning. Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 138/4 in 49.1 overs | Lead 3  | Batting: Kane Williamson 54 (127), Corey Anderson 17(51): FOUR! Corey Anderson, drives on though the cover region  first ball off James Pattinson. Not-Out! as the review shows that ball had hit the bat before crashing into the pads, Williamson survives.FOUR! first ball, Kane Williamson brings the New Zealand just a run behind Australia. Pattinson comes into to bowl his second over, and its a maiden. Josh Hazlewood bowling to good line and length giving just one run in his second over off the day as Williamson looks to get another Test ton added to his Tally.

This was given out LBW… https://t.co/kecCPykpwr #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/3Bzrks346g — FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) February 22, 2016

Live Cricket Score, New Zealand 126/4 in 45.3 overs | Trail 9 | Batting: Kane Williamson 50 (117), Corey Anderson 9 (37): FIFTY! Kane Williamson gets to his 19th Test half-century. James Pattinson comes into bowl the second over of the day, as Kane Williamson takes strike, his first time this day. Excellent first maiden over by Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood to start up front, conditions looking overcast. Kane Williamson will look to bring up his 19th Test fifty.

 Read our VVS Laxman special on Brendon McCullum: A ruthless batsman, but an even greater captain

Pitch on Day 4:

Welcome to day four! #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/SjPtv3YzKY

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 22, 2016

The Test was special as it witnessed Brendon McCullum smashing the fastest Test hundred ever. Corey Anderson and BJ Watling also contributed with valuable half centuries. For Australia, Nathan Lyon took a three-wicket-haul whereas Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Jackson Bird chipped in with two wickets each. Joe Burns and Steven Smith cracked centuries for Australia to help them take a lead of 135 runs in the first innings. Left-arm medium-fast bowler Neil Wagner took six wickets. McCullum was dismissed for 25 in the second innings while opener Tom Latham scored 39. At the end of third day’s play, Kane Williamson and Corey Anderson were unbeaten on 45 and nine respectively. New Zealand are trialing by 14 runs with two days play still remaining.

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