BLACKCAPS v Australia, Third Test, SCG

Posted Friday, 3 January, 2020 in International Match Reports
PHOTOSPORT

Major changes as BLACKCAPS bowl first

A BLACKCAPS side with a host of changes were asked to bowl first in the third Test against Australia at the SCG.

Scorecard

Tom Latham became the 30th man to captain the BLACKCAPS with regular sipper Kane Williamson ruled out with the flu, along with Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner.

Glenn Phillips was brought in to make his Test debut with Jeet Raval returning to the side to bat at number three.

Matt Henry was a further change, brought in for Tim Southee, while Will Somerville & Todd Astle were both selected for an SCG surface that traditionally takes turn.

There was success within the first hour for the visitors with Colin de Grandhomme snaffling the wicket of Joe Burns. 

Neil Wagner picked up other opener David Warner following lunch, but then the familiar pair of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith came together and went about giving their side the advantage.

The pair put on 156 for the third wicket, Smith scoring 63 before he was undone by Colin de Grandhomme late in the day.

Labuschagne continued to torment the visiting bowlers in the final session, Australia finishing 283/3 with Labuschagne 130* and Matthew Wade 22* at stumps.

AS IT HAPPENED...

PHOTOSPORT

Australia bowled out for 454

Openers Tom Latham (26*) and Tom Blundell (34*) have seen their side through to stumps unscathed on day two of the third Test at the SCG, the pair putting on 63/0 in the final session.

The BLACKCAPS bowlers stuck to the task early on day two, Australia bowled out for 454 in the afternoon, but not before Marnus Labuschagne had scored his maiden Test double century.

Scorecard

Neil Wagner (3-66) once again proved his worth, while Colin de Grandhomme (3-78) was the other pick of the New Zealand bowlers on day two.

Will Somerville snared a 'welcome home' wicket in the first over of the day, accounting for Matthew Wade for 22. However, Labuschagne was once again in superb touch, untroubled on his way to his maiden Test double century to the delight of a busy SCG crowd.

The visiting bowlers toiled hard though, Todd Astle eventually accounting for Labuschangne (215), the Canterbury leg-spinner finishing with two wickets himself.

The BLACKCAPS will resume tomorrow trailing Australia’s first innings by a further 391 runs.

AS IT HAPPENED...

PHOTOSPORT

Phillips shines in first innings

Debutant Glenn Phillips has shone with his first crack at the batting crease for the BLACKCAPS, the Auckland Aces batsman top scoring with 52 as the visitors were bowled out for 251 on day three at the SCG.

Scorecard

Despite the BLACKCAPS starting the day 63/0, Phillips was in just before lunch, opener Tom Latham the best of the top order with 49 before chipping one to mid-on.

Phillips peeled off six boundaries and one six in his innings that wasn't without luck - Nathan Lyon dropped him twice and he was dismissed off a James Pattinson no-ball.

However, the Auckland batsman looked assured and comfortable at the crease, a stellar start to his Test career.

Hometown hero Lyon was at his best once again on the SCG, the off-spinner taking 5-68 in a dominant display with the ball.

Late in the day, Australia returned to the batting crease for their second innings...

AS IT HAPPENED...

PHOTOSPORT

Taylor eclipses Fleming | NZ lose Test

The BLACKCAPS have lost the third and final Test by 279 runs at the SCG, however, in a special moment Ross Taylor became New Zealand’s most prolific run scorer in Test cricket, his 7174 runs passing Stephen Fleming on the all-time list.

SCORECARD

Taylor broke the record early in the final session of the day with a lofted on-drive for three runs. He was dismissed soon after for 22 runs off Pat Cummins.

Australia dominated day four from the outset, David Warner reached his century, Marnus Labuschagne his half century, before the home side declared on 217/2 at the fall of Labuschagne’s wicket with a lead in excess of 400.

A mammoth task lay in front of the BLACKCAPS if they were to save or win the Test and it didn’t start well, losing four wickets before tea to go to the break at 27/4.

BJ Watling (19) and Colin de Grandhomme (52) went about restoring some pride in the New Zealand second innings, their 69-run partnership the best of the lot as the visitors were eventually left 136/9, Matt Henry not batting with his broken thumb.

Australia claim the Test series 3-0 with Marnus Labuschagne taking out the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.

AS IT HAPPENED...

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