DAY FIVE
The BLACKCAPS have had to settle for a draw in the second Test against Australia, following five hard days of cricket in Perth.
Stoic batting, some late rain and a flat WACA pitch ultimately had the final say in an absorbing Test where bat dominated ball for long periods of time.
Veteran fast bowler Mitchell Johnson had also announced, prior to the start of play, his immediate retirement after this match. The 34-year-old finished his illustrious career with 313 wickets – Australia’s fourth highest Test wicket-taker ever.
The BLACKCAPS' innings was halted just before tea by bad weather at 28 for no loss, in pursuit of an unlikely 321 run target.
Play did resume, but only allowed for the BLACKCAPS to reach 104 for two before bad light forced the players from the field for good. Mitchell Johnson had enough time to claim his final wickets in Tom Latham and Martin Guptill, bringing Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor together once more, this time in an empty chase.
Earlier in the day, the BLACKCAPS' pacemen showed their class with a probing morning session of bowling, which netted them three wickets for just 73 runs in 29 overs.
Trent Boult made the early breakthrough with Australian captain Steve Smith (138) caught nibbling at one outside the off stump to bring to an end his 224-run third wicket stand with Adam Voges.
Mitchell Marsh arrived and was immediately tied down before being trapped lbw by Doug Bracewell for one from 15 balls. For the first time in the Test, the ball seemed to be on top and Tim Southee was next in on the act, claiming the big wicket of Adam Voges for 119.
Suddenly the hosts were five wickets down with a lead of just 229. After lunch, the retiring Johnson provided some brief highlights with the bat in his last Test, adding 29 before nicking off to Southee.
When Southee claimed his fourth wicket and, that of Phil Nevill for 35, Steve Smith finally appeared on the balcony to declare the innings closed at 385 for 7, setting the BLACKCAPS an improbable 321 to win off 48 overs.
It means the BLACKCAPS head to Adelaide 1-0 down and with a goal, now, of levelling the series. With the added storyline of the inaugural day/night pink ball Test, there should be plenty of excitement around the two sides’ final encounter.
DAY FOUR
Stumps score: Australia 258/2 (BLACKCAPS 624, Australia 559/9 declared)
The scene is set for day five of the second Test in Perth, with all three outcomes a very real possibility.
After a sublime 290 from Ross Taylor, the BLACKCAPS posted a staggering 624 in the first innings, with he and Trent Boult putting on 37 for the final wicket.
Australia then bounced back through centuries from skipper Steve Smith (131*) and local hero Adam Voges (101*), leaving the hosts 258/2 with a lead of 193 at stumps.
It will take a declaration or a special spell of bowling for the BLACKCAPS to get the opportunity to try haul in a target, but day two’s effort with the ball of 140/8 should provide some belief.
Day four started with the BLACKCAPS achieving the remarkable feat of overcoming Australia’s first innings total of 559 and claiming an unlikely lead of 65.
Having resumed unbeaten on 235, Taylor continued his exquisite stroke play and quickly surpassed the 250 mark. Cameos from Mark Craig (15) and Tim Southee (21) helped erase the BLACKCAPS deficit, but with Taylor edging towards the majestic 300 mark only Boult remained at the other end.
The number 11 played his part, keeping the Australian attack at bay and at one point smashing Josh Hazlewood for 14 off three balls.
Having reached the biggest score ever by a tourist in Australia and the highest by a New Zealander overseas, Taylor’s innings finally came to an end just 10 runs shy of 300.
Looking to clear the rope, he miscued one off Nathan Lyon and the substitute fielder near the boundary took a sharp catch. It brought to an end not only Taylor’s magnificent knock, but the BLACKCAPS innings – the biggest total by a touring New Zealand side.
Australia was under pressure early in their second innings, both openers gone inside eight overs.
However, Smith and Voges combined to put their side right back in the match. The duo have put on an unbeaten 212 runs so far, and will return tomorrow looking to add further. It’s all on for day five.
DAY THREE
Stumps score: BLACKCAPS 510/6 (Australia 559/9 declared)
A recordbreaking, 265-run partnership between Ross Taylor (235*) and Kane Williamson (166) has the BLACKCAPS right back in the second Test at the WACA, cutting Australia's lead to just 49 runs by close of play.
As well as featuring in New Zealand's highest partnership against Australia, Taylor’s marathon double century surpassed Martin Crowe’s 188 as the highest individual score by any Kiwi against the old enemy.
It was a new day, but it had a familiar feel, as the BLACKCAPS most successful batting partnership continued to torment the Australian attack.
Under clear sunny skies, the duo got stuck into their work, playing positively and scoring at close to five an over for much of the morning.
Williamson’s golden start to the summer rolled on as he brought up his 12th Test century before lunch. He’s one of only four players to have done that at his age (25), the others in the elite club being Alastair Cook, Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman.
After adding 109 runs for no loss in the first session, Taylor and Williamson put the hammer down in the second stanza with boundaries coming at will.
Ross Taylor’s 13th Test century arrived not long after lunch, and that was followed by the 200-run partnership with Williamson.
The milestones kept coming through the afternoon as Williamson went past the 150 mark and the second new ball was taken.
A fiery spell from Mitchell Starc was followed by a wicket at the other end as Williamson’s fine knock came to an end, courtesy of a Josh Hazlewood bouncer.
The WACA stood as one to salute Williamson’s stylish 166 which had taken his Series aggregate so far to a whopping 365 runs from just three innings.
Captain Brendon McCullum joined Taylor, who went past the 150-mark showing no signs of slowing down.
A couple of wickets at the other end couldn’t stop the 31-year-old charging to his double century, brought up with a cracking cover drive.
Taylor then went past 5000 career runs before surpassing his previous highest score of 217 not out against the West Indies in Dunedin in 2013.
Doug Bracewell and Mark Craig supplied some late support as Taylor’s tally continued to rise – going past the highest score by any visitor to the WACA.
By the close of play, Taylor and Craig had advanced the score to 510/6, the BLACKCAPS trailing by just 49 runs after a special day in their batting history.
DAY TWO
Stumps score: BLACKCAPS 140/2 (Australia 559/9 declared)
From the perfect back foot drive to an exquisitely balanced swivel into his pull shot, a masterclass from Kane Williamson won him even more admirers in Australia as the BLACKCAPS responded to Australia's challenge on day two at the WACA.
The 25-year-old from Tauranga helped settle the BLACKCAPS into a stiff chase on another breath-sappingly hot Perth afternoon.
After the early loss of Martin Guptill, Williamson himself survived a slight scare on three, pushing a difficult chance Joe Burns's way at short leg, off Josh Hazlewood.
But there was little else for the Australian attack to get excited about as Williamson combined with, first, the composed Tom Latham (who gathered a patient 36 after wearing down the heat of the attack for two hours) then Ross Taylor, who strolled out in the 26th over to put on an unbroken 53-run stand off 97 balls with his familiar Test batting buddy.
The pair has now scored more runs together in partnership than any other BLACKCAPS in Test history, a sumptuous Williamson cover drive bringing up his half century as the BLACKCAPS score pushed past 100.
Hard work gets results
Earlier, Trent Boult had landed the first blow of the day and it was a big one, removing the red-hot David Warner for 254 with a lovely away swinger which was sharply taken by Mark Craig at second slip.
Captain Steve Smith was the next to go as his patience ran out and he was caught behind going for an almighty heave off Matt Henry.
As the Australians pushed past 500, Boult struck again, sending Adam Voges on his way for 41 caught behind by BJ Watling.
Doug Bracewell produced a moment of magic to remove Mitchell Marsh, taking a superb caught and bowled off a firmly struck straight drive.
Spinner Mark Craig finally got some reward for his hard toil, too, when Peter Neville walked past one and was stumped.
It was a case of déja vu two balls later as Mitchell Johnson was beaten in the flight and caught short of his ground by Watling.
Mitchell Starc came and went next ball, hauling out to Tom Latham in the deep: all of a sudden Craig had three wickets in five balls and to be on a hat-trick.
Nathon Lyon swept the next delivery off middle stump to survive, before Smith appeared on the balcony to declare the innings at 559 for nine.
Keeping their chins up and determined to fight, it had been the BLACKCAPS' day, nemesis David Warner's dismissal early in the first session triggering the change in fortune. From a solid position of 347/3, Australia had lost wickets at pace, the combined attack taking seven wickets at a cost of just 143 runs.
The lead had been reduced to 419 by stumps, Williamson 70* and Taylor 26*. Williamson scored all around the wicket and at a good clip.
He was ably supported by Latham (36) with the pair having added 81 runs for the second wicket before Latham was caught nicking Lyon to first slip.
Ross Taylor (26) showed good early intent and together with Williamson safely reached stumps trailing Australia by 419 runs.
DAY ONE
Stumps score: Australia 416/2
The BLACKCAPS are on the back foot in Perth, after a tough first day in the field in the second Test against Australia at the WACA.
Under clear blue skies, home captain Steve Smith won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on what looked another hard and flat surface.
Champion fast bowler Tim Southee was cleared fit to play before the toss, Canterbury quick Matt Henry confirmed as the only change to the New Zealand side from Brisbane.
As they did in the first Test, openers David Warner and Joe Burns got the hosts off to a flyer, adding 101 for the first wicket before Burns was undone by the impressive Henry for 40.
Warner survived a very close LBW shout, and subsequent review, to post his 15th Test century off just 115 balls. And, he wouldn’t be done there.
At the other end, Usman Khawaja was riding his luck. First he was dropped by BJ Watling off the bowling of Mark Craig, before being caught via the same combination shortly after, only for the umpire to give it not out.
Having already used up his two decision referrals, Brendon McCullum couldn’t challenge the decision despite replays showing a clear nick. It was unlucky for the BLACKCAPS, however they would have been more perturbed by the overall bowling performance.
Warner and Khawaja put on a whopping 302 for the second wicket, both bringing up significant milestones in the process. Khawaja made it back-to-back Test centuries, while Warner continued his prolific run to bring up his maiden double ton.
It was another sensational innings from a batsman at the top of his game.
Doug Bracewell, the clear pick of the BLACKCAPS bowlers, eventually ended the partnership when he had Khawaja caught close in. It was a small reward after a hugely challenging day in the field.
Australia has once again had the better start to the Test, leaving the BLACKCAPS with plenty to do over the next four days.
