Ross Taylor yesterday made the highest Test score by a visiting batsman in Australia before he was out for 290, helping lift New Zealand to a first-innings total of 624 on day four of the second Test.
After conceding a 65-run lead in the first innings, Australia slipped to 46-2 before rallying with a 212-run partnership between skipper Steve Smith (131 not out) and Adam Voges (101) to reach 258-2 at stumps on the penultimate day.
Australia lead by 193 runs and, with the pitch remaining benign despite the appearance of cracks, a draw seems the most likely result with three sessions to play.
Photo: Reuters
Taylor’s total surpassed that of England’s R.E. “Tip” Foster, who scored 287 against Australia in Sydney in 1903, as the best by a visiting batsman in a Test match. He fell just short of becoming only the second batsman to score a triple century against Australia after Len Hutton, who did it in England in 1938.
Taylor’s innings is the third highest by a New Zealand batsman. He batted for nine-and-a-half hours, facing 374 balls and hitting 43 boundaries, and was last man out in what was New Zealand’s highest total against Australia.
Taylor’s 374-ball innings is the highest by a New Zealand batsman overseas, and third highest behind Brendon McCullum’s 302 against India in 2013-2014 and Martin Crowe’s 299 against Sri Lanka in 1990-1991 at Wellington.
The only chance he gave was when Mitchell Marsh dropped him on 137 off Mitchell Starc (4-119).
Australia won the opening Test by 208 runs at the Gabba last week and appeared to be on course for another win at the WACA Ground after winning the toss and racing to 559-9 declared on the second day.
However, Taylor reveled on a WACA pitch devoid of its usual dangerous pace and bounce, and provided the backbone of an innings that was the highest by any visiting team at the WACA.
It was Taylor’s first century in 12 innings since he scored 104 against Pakistan in Dubai last year.
Smith was forced to bat at No. 3 for Australia after Usman Khawaja strained a hamstring and was ruled out of the rest of the Test series, forcing a reshuffle in the Australian order.
Dropped on 96 by wicketkeeper B.J. Watling off seam bowler Matt Henry, Smith brought up his 12th Test century with his 13th four. It helped Smith take his tally for this year to 1,186 runs with five centuries.
Soon after reaching his century, Smith was hit on the helmet by fast bowler Trent Boult and needed medical attention before resuming the innings. Otherwise, Smith and Voges scored freely and quickly in a partnership that lasted almost four hours.
Batting the second time, Australia lost openers Joe Burns (0), and Dave Warner (24) soon after lunch — the first time in the series the Australian openers have failed to put on 100 for the first wicket.
INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA
The second Test between India and South Africa in Bangalore was headed for a tame draw after bad weather yesterday washed out play for the second successive day.
The umpires called off the scheduled third day’s play, without a ball being bowled, during the lunch break as incessant rain left large puddles of water on the outfield at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The entire second day’s play was also abandoned on Sunday and more wet weather is forecast over the southern city, caused by a cyclonic depression over the Bay of Bengal.
On the rain-free first day, South Africa were shot out for 214 after being sent in to bat in overcast conditions and India replied with 80 for no loss by stumps.
India lead the four-match series after securing a 108-run win in the first Test in Mohali, India, last week.
The third Test is to be played in Nagpur, India, from Nov. 25.
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