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New Zealand got Starc-struck, suffer heavy defeat


Bangladeshpost
Published : 15 Dec 2019 07:47 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 04:22 AM

Disciplined and determined where Pakistan were mercurial and chaotic, New Zealand succumbed to much the same fate nonetheless at Perth Stadium, as Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins delivered a yawning victory for Australia and a 1-0 lead in the Trans-Tasman series with the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests to come, ESPN reports.

Tim Paine's Australians will be delighted not only to have wrapped up a 296-run win over Kane Williamson's men inside four days, but also to have done so despite losing Josh Hazlewood after the New South Welshman had bowled a mere eight deliveries for the match. James Pattinson looks highly likely to replace Hazlewood for the MCG, though the coach Justin Langer has already hinted that five bowlers may well be chosen in expectation of a "play it safe" pitch after last week's abandoned Sheffield Shield game.

New Zealand had been left with 468 to win after Paine declared with one wicket remaining at the end of an innings where the visitors had successfully limited the lead while also expanding the amount of time in which the hosts may have needed to bowl with only two fit pacemen. Hazlewood, sidelined with a hamstring tear, padded up to bat but was not asked to hobble to the middle. This was all to be a sideshow however to the main act - namely Australia's efforts to end the match with a day to spare.

Tim Southee and Neil Wagner shared eight wickets between them in Australia's innings, as New Zealand claimed 8 for 86 after the hosts had advanced to 1 for 131 late on the third day. 

Their concerted, short-pitched angle of attack resulted not only in plenty of wickets but also a succession of painful blows for the batsmen, most notably Matthew Wade.

Wade, Cummins, Starc and Lyon added 50 runs on the fourth afternoon, leaving New Zealand with five and a half sessions to survive.