Day-night Test: Bowlers call the shots on Day 1

Adelaide, November 27

New Zealand’s pacemen struck back with two late wickets under the floodlights at Adelaide Oval but Australia’s bowlers shone in the sun as the inaugural Day-night Test opened on Friday.

Batsmen had spoken of the pink ball with trepidation in the lead-up to the historic match and 12 wickets tumbled in front of a festive crowd of 47,441.

After winning the toss, New Zealand squandered a positive start with a poor shot selection to be dismissed cheaply for 202 in the twilight early in the late session of the third and final Test.

Pacemen Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell removed Australia’s openers but captain Steve Smith (24 not out) and Adam Voges (nine) dug in to guide the hosts to 54-2 at the close of play under an inky black sky. 

Australia, 1-0 up in the series, took the leading role in nudging a 138-year-old format into prime-time hours, so it was fitting that the hosts held a slender advantage at the close. Their satisfaction was tempered, however, with an injury to pace spearhead Mitchell Starc who limped off late in the middle session to have scans. Having carried an ankle injury for months, he was the pick of their bowlers with 3-24, but was clearly in discomfort from the first ball after New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to bat. New Zealand crumbled in the middle session, losing three wickets for four runs in 11 balls, with opener Tom Latham, Ross Taylor and McCullum all falling through loose shots.

Spinner Nathan Lyon triggered the rout when Latham bottom-edged to Peter Nevill to be out for 50, the wicketkeeper snaffling a fine catch with the edge of his glove. — Reuters 

Brief scores: New Zealand 202 (Latham 50, Starc 3/24, Hazlewood 3/66); Australia 54/2 (Smith 24no)