Edgy at Adelaide Oval

Pacer Hazlewood's 3-32 reduces NZ to 116-5 as Australia take 22-run first innings lead

Adelaide: New Zealand held a tenuous 94-run lead in the absorbing day-night third Test after a second day of tumbling wickets at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. The Kiwis, trailing 1-0 in the series, struggled to build a defendable total to present Australia in the fourth innings after another fast-paced day's cricket of 13 wickets before 42,372 fans.


Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Ross Taylor on Day Two of the third Test in Adelaide on Saturday. Pic/AFP

At the close, the Black Caps were finding batting difficult under lights and were 116 for five with a result looming on Sunday's third day in the scheduled five-day Test. New Zealand had lost their top batsmen and at the crease were BJ Watling on seven with debutant Mitchell Santner not out 13.

"Definitely no figure. Whatever we end up with we're just going to have to get some wickets but more importantly having that new ball as close to twilight as possible," senior batsman Ross Taylor said. "If we can keep them out there and keep our bowlers from bowling not as many overs tomorrow, then we give ourselves the best chance." Josh Hazlewood led the Australian attack with three wickets in the absence of injured spearhead Mitchell Starc as the pink ball again dominated the bat.

Great start
Hazlewood removed both openers with mesmerising ball movement under lights. Martin Guptill sliced to Mitch Marsh in the gully for 17 and Tom Latham was tempted by a wider delivery and was caught behind for 10. Hazlewood had Kane Williamson dropped on one by Adam Voges in the slips but the star Kiwi batsman soon feathered a catch to Nevill off Mitch Marsh for nine to complete a low-scoring match.

Captain Brendon McCullum followed for 20, leg before wicket to Marsh and Perth Test double century-maker Taylor fell the same way to Hazlewood for 32. "The wicket's not that bad to have so many wickets taken in two days," Hazlewood said.

Brief scores
New Zealand 202 & 116-5 (R Taylor 32, B McCullum 20; J Hazlewood 3-32, M Marsh 2-44) lead Australia 224 (P Nevill 66, S Smith 53; D Bracewell 3-18, T Boult 2-41) by 94 runs

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