CHRISTCHURCH: Alex Carey produced a brilliant knock under pressure to crush New Zealand’s bid for a famous victory as Australia posted a tough 279 runs in a nerve-racking chase at Hagley Oval.
Australia’s bid to win the second Test and seal the series 2-0 appeared in deep trouble at 80 for 5 after the early wicket of Travis Head on day four. But Carey and Mitchell Marsh, who made 80 after being dismissed for 28, combined to put on a blistering 140-run partnership for the sixth wicket to take Australia within 59 runs.
Debutant Ben Sears, bowling at 140km/h in the middle, turned the match on its head with the wickets of Marsh and Mitchell Starc in successive deliveries to revive New Zealand’s hopes. Carey, however, was undaunted and finished the Aussie hero with an unbeaten 98.
He found calm support from Pat Cummins, who again helped Australia over the line much as he memorably did at Edgbaston in last year’s Ashes. Cummins made 32 and hit the winning boundary at an increasingly gloomy Hagley Oval as the batsmen embraced the mid-wicket.
Australia have only been 279 or more in the fourth innings on 13 previous occasions and only twice since 2006. Only three teams in Test history have scored more runs after the fall of the fifth wicket in a successful fourth innings chase.
The win capped off a hectic period of Test cricket for Australia, who have played 22 Tests in the last 15 months. But they will take a break from the format with their next task until next summer against India in a five-Test blockbuster.
It was a satisfying triumph for Australia, who had previously only had one series win away from home since their last Test tour of New Zealand in 2016.
But New Zealand were bitterly disappointed as their misery against Australia continued, beating them just once in three decades. With their next series against Australia not until 2026-27, several senior players in the squad may never get the chance to beat their neighbours.
After a spirited fightback since being bowled out for 162 in their first innings, New Zealand were in the box heading into the fourth day of play, which was delayed by an hour due to rain.
Resuming on 77 for 4, needing another 202 runs, Australia’s hopes seemed to rest with Marsh and Head, who combined for 43 runs on the third day after the top-order collapsed.
In overcast conditions, Marsh broke Tim Southee’s first ball when he hit the ball backwards, only for Rachin Ravindra to drop the chance.
But New Zealand’s agony was short-lived when, on the next delivery, Head replicated Marsh’s full-blooded strike and Will Young made no mistake. It completed a difficult season for Head, who scored just 150 runs in 11 Test innings off a match-winning century against the West Indies in Adelaide.
With Josh Inglis breathing down his neck, Carey’s place in the team was in focus as he had made just two half-centuries in the previous 18 innings. Buoyed by a record 10 dismissals by the Australian keeper, Carey looked solid as he quickly moved on to 19 until he was lbw after Matt Henry’s bowling around the wicket trapped him on the cycle.
But Carey was saved by the ball-tracking DRS system, which deemed the ball to be sliding down the leg side. He calmly continued his innings and kept the runs flowing, but had an anxious moment in the 37th minute when Scott Kuggeleijn made a loud appeal to be caught behind. New Zealand unsuccessfully reviewed as their nerves rose.
Entering the innings on the back of back-to-back ducks, Marsh rediscovered his form from the Australian summer as he and Carey hit their half-centuries as Australia reached lunch needing another 105 runs.
A single from Marsh after the break underlined the pair’s century partnership and reduced Australia’s deficit below a hundred, with batting becoming easier against the older ball. New Zealand’s fading hopes seemed to rest on Henry, who was also aiming for a 10-wicket haul, but Marsh continued to counter-attack and smashed his bouncer for a six.
Southee turned desperately to Sears and it proved to be a masterstroke as he trapped Marsh lbw after hitting him in front of mid-on and leg. Marsh checked, hoping the ball was sliding down the leg side, but was upheld in the umpire’s call to spur New Zealand on.
When Sears hit Starc straight to square leg on his next delivery, it was a dud at the near-capacity Hagley Oval. Sears almost completed his hat-trick when Cummins edged over second slip nervously.
But Sears was then thwarted by inventive batting from Carey and an unexcited Cummins, who continued his knack for ice-cold batting in the run. Both batsmen endured a few anxious moments as Southee went back to Henry for a final push but it was in vain. Carey fell short of a deserved century as Cummins sealed victory with a breakthrough point and roared in celebration.
