Australia wins historic Day-Night test against New Zealand in Adelaide

Josh-Hazlewood

 

In India a couple of days ago, a Test against South Africa that ended in three days provoked outsized criticism from across the world for its turning wicket. In Adelaide, a Test between Australia and New Zealand ended on its third evening and was met with worldwide praise.

Across 75 Test matches since 1884, only one other Adelaide Oval match has finished in three days – when a rain-ruined pitch in 1951 saw 22 wickets fall on the first day, and the West Indies eventually chase 233 to beat Arthur Morris’ Australians on Christmas Day.

The lush pitch and outfield designed to protect the new pink cricket ball added juice for the bowlers, but also added intrigue to a series that had been played on batting paradises. And with 123,736 people in the gate – more than last year’s Test managed in a five-day thriller – you doubt the administrators are ruing lost time.

It was Australia who ended this arm wrestle victorious, with the unlikely figure of Shaun Marsh central to a difficult run-chase of 187, completed under floodlights with three wickets to spare in a final stanza that was equal parts tension and hilarity.

As befits its reputation, New Zealand refused to give up even when the match was against them. They looked like they would struggle when they were bowled out for an insufficient 208, and looked gone when Australia got to within a dozen runs of the target with only five down.

But a long period of becalming bowling brought them the wickets of Marsh for 49 and Peter Nevill for 10, and had Peter Siddle been caught first ball from his midwicket flick that so nearly went to hand, anything could have happened.

Even with two runs to defend, New Zealand stacked seven men in the cordon and dragged out the end, Tim Southee making Siddle and Mitchell Starc sweat.

Fittingly it was Siddle who scored the winning runs, adding to the mixed emotions of celebrating his return to the first-choice XI and mourning the death of his grandmother. It would also have been fitting for man of the match Josh Hazlewood to have been in the middle, after he set up the win with a career-best 6 for 70 to go with his first-innings 3 for 66.