Sunday, November 08, 2015

Australia pile on runs as Williamson only ray of sunshine in NZ gloom: T1D3

  
Australia 4/556dec & 4/264 (42ov, Burns 129/123b/ 4x6 13x4, Warner 116/113b/2x6 8x4. Craig 3/78) lead New Zealand 317 (82.2ov, Williamson 140/178b/24x4, Latham 47, Watling 32, Starc 17.2-4-57-4, Johnson 3/105) by 503 runs with 6 2nd inns wickets in hand: T1/3 D3/5 at the Gabba, Brisbane.

Kane Williamson gave New Zealand a degree of self-respect and a first innings total sufficient to make Australia bat again instead of enforcing the follow on. Then Joe Burns and David Warner once again put the Black Caps attack to the sword and bludgeon, setting their team up for as close to an inevitable victory as it's possible to imagine.

That said, NZ's innings showed that they do have at least one good in form player and some handy, if not top flight, ones eg Tom Latham, Martin Guptill & BJ Watling. The bowling is a worry, though. Trent Boult has disappointed, Tim Southee is injured and none of those used looked likely to restrain the rampaging Burns and Warner.

So with three days played, the inevitable (subject to weather) Australian victory should come on the fourth day.



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