New Zealand closed day three of the primary Take a look at in opposition to Australia on 111-3, chasing 369 to win, holding alive their slim hopes of victory within the collection opener.
Glenn Phillips (5-45) took a maiden Take a look at five-for and Matt Henry chipped in with 3-36 to bowl Australia out for 164 of their second innings, giving the Black Caps a sniff.
Phillips, the off-spinner in simply his sixth Take a look at, discovered himself on a hat-trick after eradicating Travis Head for 29 and dismissing Mitchell Marsh subsequent ball.
First-innings centurion Cameron Inexperienced contributed an extra 34 with the bat for Australia, whereas nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was the unlikely high scorer, finally falling on 41 with a primary Take a look at fifty in sight.
As New Zealand set about their file run-chase in Checks, the hosts misplaced Tom Latham (8) and Kane Williamson (9) cheaply to Lyon, earlier than part-time spinner Head eliminated Will Younger for 15 – the Black Caps reeling at 59-3.
However a cultured, unbeaten 56 from Rachin Ravindra, supported in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 52 by Daryl Mitchell (12no), noticed New Zealand survive by means of to stumps with out additional loss.
New Zealand’s highest profitable fourth-innings run chase of their historical past is 324 – in opposition to Pakistan at Christchurch in 1994. Their present goal of 369 wouldn’t solely eclipse that however it will signify the Tenth-highest chase in Take a look at historical past.
Phillips instructed reporters after the day’s play: “I definitely think we’ve got the time on our hands to be able to pull this off.
“I perceive we have to fight the conditions which can be on the market. Clearly there is a little bit of flip, so it is a matter of how we go about combating Lyon. The best way their huge quick bowlers bowl as effectively goes to be a problem.”
Australia, meanwhile, are confident of closing things out to take a 1-0 lead in the series going into the second and final Test in Christchurch.
“Credit score the place credit score’s due, [Rachin] performed very effectively there,” Lyon said. “However I do know if we are able to come out right here and simply do our job, and put the strain on and problem their defence for lengthy durations of time, hopefully we’ll crack them.”
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