New Zealand managed to post a total of 372, thus setting Australia a stiff target of 279 runs for victory. The visitors have found themselves in troubled waters early on, with the scoreboard reading a dismal 26/2 within the first ten overs.
With their stalwarts Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja back in the hut, the responsibility to see the chase through has now fallen on Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh’s shoulders as Australia need another 241 runs to cross the finish line. Australia had eventually slipped to 34/4 on the third evening and victory was a further 202 runs away.
Safe to say, the visitors were on the backfoot and Marsh was going to be one of their rays of hope having counter-attacked his way to a run-a-ball 29. He rode his luck as his fierce cut shot in the second over of the day was put down by Rachin Ravindra at point off the bowling of Tim Southee. His batting partner, Travis Head, wasn’t as lucky though as a similar shot two balls later led to his downfall.
Pat Cummins has dismissed Kane Williamson in his first ball of the spell. Williamson is dismissed for 51@BLACKCAPS v Australia: 2nd Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/QXhfqT7bhH
— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) March 9, 2024
