NZ strike to sniff a chance vs Oz

Wellington, March 2

New Zealand were 111/3 at the close of play on the third day of the first Test against Australia at Basin Reserve today, still 258 runs away from their daunting victory target of 369.

277If New Zealand get to 286, it will be the highest-ever chase at Basin Reserve, with the previous record being the 277/3 by Pakistan in 2003

Spinner Glenn Phillips had earlier taken 5 for 45 — his first five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket — as New Zealand took Australia’s last six wickets for the addition of 37 runs to end the tourist’s second innings on 164.

The batting was no easier for the Black Caps, however. Openers Tom Latham and Will Young both departed cheaply, while mainstay Kane Williamson had scored only nine runs when he was dismissed by spinner Nathan Lyon.

Rachin Ravindra, who reached the half-century mark for the second time in his short Test career and was 56 not out at stumps, will resume on day four alongside Daryl Mitchell, who was unbeaten on 12, in a partnership worth 52 runs.

New Zealand’s highest successful fourth-innings run chase was the 324 they scored against Pakistan at Christchurch in 1994. Their highest at Basin Reserve was the 285 they scored to beat Sri Lanka last year.

Australia will be looking to off-spinner Lyon to play a key role in putting the tourists 1-0 up in the two-match series that concludes with the second Test in Christchurch starting on Friday.

“Credit where credit’s due, (Rachin) played very well there,” said Lyon. “But I know if we can come out here and just do our job, and put the pressure on and challenge their defence for long periods of time, hopefully we’ll crack them.” — Reuters

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