CHRISTCHURCH — Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja reduced Australia’s victory target to 131 runs with nine wickets in hand at the end of the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval Tuesday.
Burns was on 27, while Khawaja was 19 not out with Australia 70 for one after being set 201 runs to win the match and series 2-0.
It had earlier dismissed the host in its second innings for 335 after tea.
David Warner was the only wicket to fall when he was caught down the leg side by BJ Watling from Neil Wagner for 22, though New Zealand needed to ask for a review to determine the ball had glanced his gloves.
Jackson Bird grabbed his first five-wicket haul to help wrap up New Zealand’s second innings after tea that had been characterized by stubborn middle and lower-order resistance.
Bird, who had grabbed three quick wickets after lunch, including the key scalp of Kane Williamson (97), bowled Matt Henry for 66 — his first half century and highest score — then had Trent Boult caught for a duck to finish with 5-59.
“It was nice to take some wickets when the team needed it after lunch but I feel like I’ve been pretty inconsistent with the way I’ve bowled in the series which is disappointing,” Bird told reporters. “But it was nice ... to put us in a pretty good position to win the game tomorrow and win the series.”
James Pattinson finished with 4-77, but had the most important wicket in the final session Tuesday when he dismissed Watling for 46 after the wicketkeeper had combined with Henry in a crucial 118-run partnership.
Until their eighth-wicket stand, the host had been in danger of being dismissed with a lead of only about 100 after Bird had broken a 102-run partnership between Williamson and Corey Anderson (40) that had got their side into credit.
The pair batted through a heated first session in which Australia dropped two catches, had two reviews turned down and an lbw decision overturned.
The second review, just before lunch and against Williamson, prompted a petulant outburst from captain Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood, who pleaded guilty to dissent over a profanity-laced confrontation with the umpires. The fine will be determined later.
New Zealand had begun the day on 121 for four, 14 runs in arrears of Australia’s 505, but its stubborn resistance ensured the match would enter a fifth and final day.
The target also appeared competitive though not overly challenging on a good batting surface and Australia should seal victory to reclaim the No. 1 ranking in Test cricket, though Anderson said his side would make it tough for the visitors. — Agencies
