Australia crush NZ by 279 runs in 3rd test, win series 3-0, Warner hits 24th ton

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Australia crushed New Zealand (NZ) by 279 runs on Day 4 in the 3rd test at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia, on January 6, 2020, with spinner Nathan Lyon taking 10 wickets in the match, five wickets each in both the innings. Australia won the one sided three-match series 3-0. Marnus Labuschagne was declared both Player of the Series and Player of the Match. Labuschagne had scored 215 in Australia’s first innings.

Chasing a target of  416, NZ were all out for 136 in their second innings with all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme scoring 52 in 68 balls hitting 5 fours and a six. NZ had lost their first five wickets in second innings for just 38 juns. But, Grandhomme and B J Watling (wk) added 69 runs for the 6th wicket. Grandhomme fell Nathan Lyon and it was 107/6. Spinner Tod Astle also fell to Lyon for 17 with 2 fours making it 128/7. William Somerville fell to fast bowler Mitchell Starc for 7 making it 136/8. Watling too fell to Lyon for 19 in 108 balls and it was 136/9. Mat Henry did not bat due to thumb injury. Lyon took 5/50 in 16.5 overs while Mitchell Starc took 3/25 in 9 overs. Pat Cummins took one wicket.

NZ openers Tom Latham (captain) and Tom Blundell scored 1 and 2 runs respectively. Both fell to Starc making it 4/2. Jeet Raval fell to Lyon for 12 making it 22/3. Glenn Phillips fell to Lyon for a duck making it 22/4. Ross Taylor fell to Pat Cummins for 22making it 22/and it was 38/5. Taylor on January 6 became the leading run scorer for NZ in tests overtaking former captain Stephen Fleming, 46.

Earlier, Australia declared their 2nd innings at 217/2 with opener David Warner scoring an unbeaten 111 in 159 balls hitting 9 fours, his 24th test ton, and run machine Marnus Labuschagne scoring 59 in 74 balls with 3 fours. Opener Joe Burns scored 40 runs. warner and Joe Burns added  107 runs for the first wicket. Warner and Labuschange then added 110 runs for the 2nd wicket. Australiia had  scored 454 in their first innings while NZ had scored 256 in their first innings.