New Zealand gave themselves a slim chance of escaping the first Test against Australia with a draw as rain intervened on day four in Brisbane.
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Senior men Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor will resume amid a much improved weather forecast on 142-3, requiring another 362 for what would be their greatest victory.
Although he concedes the first hour on Monday could prove crucial to his side’s chances of getting a result, Latham says it is important McCullum does not get too bogged down in trying to protect his wicket.
“I certainly think we’re in with a chance”, Latham said, and incredibly, the opening batsman was talking about winning the Test as opposed to merely saving it. “Saying that, it’s a fourth innings and we’ve got five bowlers out there to take 10 wickets, so we’re going to have to bowl in partnerships and it doesn’t always rely on one person’s shoulders”.
The bad weather appeared to have come at a good time for New Zealand who lost the wicket of in-form batsman Kane Williamson just before the tea break. “If we bowl well then we win this test match”, Lyon said.
The rain returned to wash out the final session with the Black Caps on 142-3.
Australia need to take seven wickets on the final day if they are to win, and will be buoyed by Lyon’s impact in the latter stages of today’s play. Guptill could barely score but didn’t seem flustered by the conservative approach.
The fifth day will start 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled time to make up for the loss of play due to rain.
Burns went to his hundred – a vindication of his recall after the selectors were somewhat harsh in leaving him out of the winter tours of the West Indies and England – with two straight sixes in three balls from the hapless Mark Craig.
When bad light stopped play, Australia had stretched their overall lead to 503 runs at 264 for four and an overnight declaration imminent with first-innings centurion Usman Khawaja not out nine and Adam Voges on one.
Unfortunately for Latham, he was caught in front of his wickets off the bowling of Mitchell Starc and was given out Leg Before Wicket.
New Zealand are still dreaming big but wet weather remains their best chance of staving of defeat in the first Test against Australia at the Gabba. The opener was finally done in by a quicker delivery from Lyon, edging to slip on 23 off 133 balls.
Eventually stumps was called and New Zealand finished the day at 142/3 off 53 overs. Every shot was hitting the sweet spot as he was making a mockery of the seemingly perilous hole New Zealand were in.
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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.
