DAY THREE
Result: Australia win by three wickets
The BLACKCAPS made Australia sweat right to the end on a pulsating third day in Adelaide, but came up three wickets short in their attempt to defend 187 runs in the historic day/night pink ball Test.
Despite putting the Aussie top order under intense pressure and claiming some late wickets to hush the huge home crowd, it was left-hander Sean Marsh's 49-run knock which would prove the difference.
The day had resumed with the BLACKCAPS 116/5 with a lead of 94.
Debutant Mitchell Santner again showed his enormous potential with a polished 46 and he was assisted by Doug Bracewell’s unbeaten 27 as the visitors were dismissed just before tea for 208.
Defending 187, the BLACKCAPS needed to take regular wickets and after some early runs it was Trent Boult and Tim Southee who got things going.
The pair picked up the first four wickets for just 115 runs, including the prized scalps of David Warner and captain Steve Smith.
Australia's hero, however, would come from an unlikely candidate in the recalled Marsh who was able to combine with his brother Mitchell for a crucial 46-run fifth wicket partnership.
Impressive rookie Santner broke that partnership courtesy of a superb high catch by Kane Williamson and when Trent Boult claimed the late wickets of Marsh and Peter Neville the Adelaide Oval went quiet.
Unfortunately for Brendon McCullum’s men, it wasn’t to be as Peter Siddle smeared the winning runs to secure the three-wicket victory.
The match in itself proved a terrific spectacle, if not a long one, and the 33,000 fans who turned up on the third day took the total match attendence to 123,736.
The series defeat is the first for the BLACKCAPS since May 2013 and breaks their unbeaten Test streak at seven straight series.
The team will now have a week to rest up and refocus before reassembling in Dunedin for the first of two ANZ Tests against Sri Lanka starting at the University Oval on December 11.
DAY TWO
Stumps score: BLACKCAPS 116-5 & 202 lead by 94 runs
Australia 224
Day two of the historic pink ball test delivered plenty more drama and entertainment, with 13 wickets falling to leave the series decider delicately poised.
After dismissing Australia midway through the day for 224, the BLACKCAPS were 116-5 at stumps, with debutant Mitchell Santner (*13) and BJ Watling (*7) digging in to survive to the end of a fiery final session under lights.
The match momentum swung back and forth all day and after taking 6 for 62 before tea the tourists were left frustrated as the hosts pushed past their first innings total of 202 and then took five wickets in the last two hours.
Tim Southee got things started on day two by removing Adam Voges with a signature out-swinger which Martin Guptill gleefully grabbed at third slip.
The moment of the morning came moments later when Brendon McCullum ran out Sean Marsh with some brilliance at mid-off.
The New Zealand captain threw himself to his left to knock down Marsh’s drive before regathering the ball and throwing the stumps down while sitting on the ground.
That wicket swung the momentum in the visitors favour and Marsh’s brother Mitchell was soon on his way back to the pavilion after nibbling at one from Doug Bracewell.
At 80 for five captain Steve Smith became the key man for the hosts and he posted 50 as the Australian’s finally reached the 100 mark.
Spinner Mark Craig had been successfully targeted by Smith for much of this series, but the tactic backfired on this occasion when he was deceived in the flight.
The ball took the inside edge and was very smartly taken down the leg side by keeper BJ Watling.
Peter Siddle became Craig’s second victim four balls later when he was caught bat pad for a duck.
The ball was taking turn which saw Mitchell Santner and Craig bowling in tandem and it was Santner who claimed the next wicket, clean bowling Josh Hazlewood to have the Aussies reeling at 166 for eight.
The first session reaping six wickets for just 62 runs.
After the break new batsman Nathon Lyon was controversially given not out after appearing to edge the ball onto his pad before being caught by Ross Taylor.
The decision would prove costly as Lyon and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill combined for a record 76 run ninth wicket partnership against New Zealand.
Trent Boult eventually broke the partnership when Lyon was caught in the gully and after some Mitchell Starc fireworks the Australian innings closed at 224 with a surprise lead of 22.
BLACKCAPS openers Tom Latham and Martin Guptill negotiated a tricky half hour before dinner and managed to knock off the deficit in the process.
Resuming in the twighlight was always going to be a challenge and so it proved as both men perished within the first hour.
They were soon followed by Kane Williamson who feathered one through to the keeper to make it 52 for 3.
McCullum and the inform Ross Taylor began rebuilding positively but their promising 32 run partnership was stopped when Mitchell Marsh trapped the Kiwi captain in front for 20.
Taylor would fall to the same fate on 32 leaving the visitors precariously placed at 98 for five with half an hour to play.
DAY ONE
Stumps score: Australia 54/2 (BLACKCAPS 202)
It was a day of many firsts in Adelaide as the inaugural pink ball day/night Test match got underway between the BLACKCAPS and Australia.
The much anticipated opening day of the third Test attracted a record 47,441 fans through the gate and they were treated to plenty of action, with 12 wickets falling over three sessions.
In beautiful conditions captain Brendon McCullum finally got the coin to fall his way and wasted no time in electing to bat, while also handing Northern Districts all-rounder Mitchell Santner his New Zealand Test debut.
After losing the early wicket of opener Martin Guptill, Tom Latham and first drop Kane Williamson went about laying the innings foundations.
The pair added a patient 50 runs for the second wicket with both men looking in fine touch and playing the pink ball with aplomb.
There was an air of shock in the ground when Williamson was then dismissed short of a half century for the first time this series.
The right-hander was caught on the toe by a Mitchell Starc swinging yorker and, although the decision was extremely close, he had to go.
Ross Taylor arrived at the crease and looked every bit the man who plundered the Aussie attack for 290 in his last knock in Perth.
At the other end, Latham was in complete control, and brought up his half century just before the break to steer New Zealand to 80 for two at tea.
The second session would prove costly for the visitors, losing seven wickets for just 93 runs.
Latham, Taylor and then captain McCullum departed within two overs of each other, thrusting debutant Santner into the Adelaide cauldron with the home side fired up.
The 23-year-old promptly drove his first ball to the point boundary and showed few nerves as he compiled a brisk 31 before being undone by Starc.
The Aussie paceman’s delight was short-lived as he soon hobbled off with an ankle injury, and later left the ground for scans.
Despite the BLACKCAPS' best efforts, the wickets continued to fall and they were eventually dismissed for 202 runs as the floodlights began to take affect.
Trent Boult delivered the perfect start when he nicked off the dangerous David Warner with a perfectly bowled outswinger.
Some tight bowling ensured the Australians’ couldn't get on top and when Doug Bracewell knocked over Joe Burns the match squared up with the hosts 34 for two.
Captain Steve Smith (*24) and Adam Voges (9*) negotiated their way to stumps at 54/2, still trailing by 148 runs.
