Kane Williamson followed his first innings 140 with a 59 as play did not resume after tea with the Black Caps 142 for 3 – 362 runs behind but with more bad weather forecast for Monday.
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“But that first hour is going to be massive for us”.
It’s important Brendan goes out and plays his natural game.
Williamson’s dismissal late in the day leaves Australia in control at the Gabba, but New Zealand may yet hold on for a draw.
“If we don’t bowl well and they get away they have two very risky batsmen at the crease, so it’s definitely a chance”, Lyon said. But they know how to save test matches – notably McCullum with his Wellington heroics with backing from Jimmy Neesham and BJ Watling – and will require all their guile and application to get the tourists within sight.
What makes things even more grim for the Kiwis is the fact that Nathan Lyon was getting a few serious turn and bounce during his overs, and the rain and moisture will only improve things for the Australian pace bowling cartel of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Given the circumstances, his job was to eke out New Zealand’s innings for as long as possible and he stuck to his task manfully, depriving himself of runs to farm out the strike and building a succession of partnerships with tailenders.
Weather permitting, Australia’s bowlers have nearly two full days to dismiss the Black Caps again and take a 1-0 lead in the three-test series.
History, and the first innings performance of New Zealand’s top-six bar Williamson, suggested this was highly unlikely.
New Zealand have scored the highest losing total in the fourth innings of a Test with 451 when chasing 550 against England at Christchurch in 2002.
Martin Guptill was dropped on zero and seven, Smith slapping his hands in frustration after the second chance. The opener was finally done in by a quicker delivery from Lyon, edging to slip on 23 off 133 balls. Until then, he’d been untroubled by the Australian pacemen, and cruised to his half century from 55 balls.
“Kane Williamson aside, (New Zealand) have found scoring hard on what is widely considered a batsman-friendly surface”, the piece continued.
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Lyon had figures of two for 33 in 11 overs and one suspects that he will be the key on day five while Starc took one for 24 in 13 overs.
