The Australian opener smashed 116 from 113 balls on Day 3 after scoring a 224-ball 163 on the opening day of the ongoing first Test between Australia and New Zealand at Gabba.
Advertisement
At the end of Day 3, the hosts lead by 503 runs with six wickets to spare.
Burns motored towards his first hundred and brought it up in incredible style by smashing a flighted delivery from Craig over long-off for six – his second in three balls in the 30th over.
“The plan was to hit six singles but I just kind of blacked out a bit and swung as hard as I could and luckily got it over the rope”, Burns said.
David Warner has become the third man to pull off one of Test cricket’s greatest solo feats for a third time.
Australian openers got off to a storming start in the second innings.
It was just the third time a batsman had scored a Test century in both innings on three separate occasions, along with Ricky Ponting and Sunil Gavaskar.
“That all takes care of itself when you’re out there, but for us it’s about the team situation, and personally for me, number one, two and three is to have the opportunity to go back to back”. “That’s something special, as a pair as well, a century-run partnership in both innings”.
Starc finished the job with two quick wickets, adding Tim Southee (14) and Williamson to his scalps in the space of two overs.
New Zealand, who had resumed on 157-5, were earlier dismissed for 317 after a brilliantly defiant 140 from Kane Williamson but Smith decided not to enforce the follow-on despite the 239-run deficit.
Skipper Steve Smith was given out for one to a close-to-the-ground catch by Williamson off Trent Boult that needed a lengthy umpire’s review.
“With me it’s about making sure that I’m adaptable to each of the conditions”, Smith said.
Watling was dismissed for 32 when he was caught behind by Peter Nevill off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson to leave the tourists’ tail exposed.
“You’ve still got to get in, it’s like the first innings, and you’ve got to try to knuckle down in the first session, see the new bowlers off and then play your game from there”.
Since truly establishing himself at the top of the order with a century in the first Test of the 2013-14 Ashes, Warner has been among the world’s most prolific scorers, registering at least a half-century in 17 of the 22 Tests he has played.
Advertisement
Williamson played a lone hand for the Black Caps as wickets toppled around him on the third day.
