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Patna : Australia beat New Zealand (NZ) by 247 runs in the 2nd test in the third session of play on Day 4 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, on December 29, 2019, to win the three-match test series 2-0. Australian batsman Travis Head was declared Player of the Match for his 114 in first innings. NZ captain Kane Williamson said that Australia has got a fantastic attack. He also praised his bowler Neil Wagner, who took 7 wickets in the match including 4 in Australia’s first innings. The 3rd test starts at Sydney on January 3, 2020.
Spinner Nathan Lyon took 4/81 in 23 overs while fast bowler James Pattinson took 3/35 in 12 overs. Marnus Labuschagne took one wicket. New Zealand opener Tom Blundell scored 121 in 210 balls with 15 fours, his test century, displaying tremendous grit and resistance. He was the last NZ batsman to get out. Failure of top NZ batsmen : Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, and B J Watling, cost them the series.
Chasing a target of 488 runs, NZ were all out for 240 in their second innings on Day 4. Fast bowler Trent Boult did not bat due to injury. Opener Tom Latham fell to Pattinson for 4 while captain Kane Williamson, who had scored 9 in the first innings, also fell to the same bowler for a duck. Ross Taylor also fell to Pattinson for 2 making it 35/3. Henry Nicholls fell to spinner Lyon for 33 with 3 fours and a six while B J Watling (wk) fell to Lyon for 22 in 63 balls with 3 four making it 161/5. Colin de Grandhomme fell to Lyon for 9 and it was 172/6. Spinner Mitchell Santner, who added 40 runs with Tom Blundell for the 8th wicket, fell to Lyon for 27 in 46 balls with 5 fours. Tim Southee was run out for 2 and it was 214/8.
Earlier resuming at their overnight score of 137/4, Australia declared their 2nd innings at 168/5 with Neil Wagner taking 3/50. Matthew Wade remained unbeaten on 30 in 54 balls with 1 four. Travis Head fell to Wagner for 28 in 64 balls with 2 fours. Australia had scored 467 in their first innings.