Brendon McCullum’s dismissal in the final over of the day put Australia firmly in control of the first Test in Wellington, New Zealand, yesterday as the hosts were reduced to 178-4, still 201 runs behind the tourists’ mammoth first innings of 562.
Trapped leg before wicket by Mitchell Marsh for 10, the captain’s wicket all but ended New Zealand’s hopes of saving the Test at the end of the third day’s play.
Debutant Henry Nicholls was on 31 and was to be joined by Corey Anderson when play resumes today.
Photo: AP
McCullum scored 302 and batted for almost 13 hours to save his team against India on the same ground two years ago, but was unable to mount any sort of a rescue against Australia.
The 34-year-old appeared anxious and was almost caught behind the wicket twice before all-rounder Marsh removed him with three balls left before stumps.
Adam Voges earlier scored his second Test double-century to drive Australia to a 379-run first-innings lead.
The late-blooming Voges, who was 35 when he made his debut in the Caribbean in June last year, has scored 1,267 runs in a bountiful Test career to date, boasting an average of 97.46.
“I’m giving myself every chance to get in each time I bat and when I do get in I’m hungry to score big runs,” Voges told reporters. “It has been a great day to get to 200 and to get us into a great position is a very satisfying feeling.”
New Zealand’s second innings had begun promisingly enough with Tom Latham and Martin Guptill putting on 81 for the first wicket.
However, Guptill’s fall for 45 appeared a wasted chance as he had looked well set before slogging off-spinner Nathan Lyon to Marsh at extra-cover.
Kane Williamson and Latham took their side through to tea, but Williamson fell shortly afterwards for 22 when he feathered a Josh Hazlewood delivery through to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.
Latham also wasted a golden opportunity to push on when he fell to a poor shot off Lyon for 63 after notching his seventh half-century.
“There are a couple of guys who would be disappointed with their dismissal, but they batted well,” New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said. “We want the guys to show intent and be aggressive, but sometimes that can go wrong. Sometimes those dismissals look worse than others, but for me as long as the guys show the positive intent we will be better off for it.”
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