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Australia has won the second test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, with a three-wicket win.
Alex Carey’s 98* and Mitchell Marsh’s 80 in the second innings were crucial to Australia chasing down 279 runs for victory.
After a dominant opening stand in the first innings for New Zealand led by Tom Latham (38) and Will Young (14), who had an opening stand of 47 runs. The Kiwis quickly crumbled to 84/5 with the top five all back in the hut just after the 30-over mark.
Matt Henry (29) and Tim Southee (26) were the next two top scores in New Zealand’s first dig and Tom Blundell (22) was the only other player to make over 20 runs.
Josh Hazlewood was the main threat with his 12th test match five-wicket bag, finishing with figures of 5/31 and Mitchell Starc taking 3/59 as the home team posted just 162.
The majority of the Australian batters found the wicket difficult as well, apart from number three, Marnus Labushcange who struck a crucial 90.
Contributions from the rest of the Australian order managed to get them past the 250-run mark, but the main reason that they were able to be restricted was down to Henry.
He grabbed his second test match seven-wicket haul as he grabbed figures of 7/67 from 23 overs.
New Zealand were able to pile on the runs in their second innings however with fifties from Latham (73), Kane Williamson (51), Rachin Ravindra (82), and Daryl Mitchell (58).
Scott Kuggeleijn put on a quick 44 from 49 whilst Pat Cummins got 4/62 and Nathan Lyon 3/49.
They all laid the platform for New Zealand to potentially get a lead of over 300 runs, but wickets fell at crucial stages as the Kiwis set Australia 279 to win.
The Aussies were on the backfoot early on slipping to 34/4 with Henry and Sears ripping through the top order. Travis Head fell for 18 and Australia 80/5.
Sears made the breakthrough to break Marsh and Carey’s 140-run stand and then had Starc on his way next ball.
Cummins added 32* to go alongside Carey’s 98* to see Australia to a seven-wicket win, crushing many Kiwi hearts.
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