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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Day-night Test, PHOTOS: Australia edge out New Zealand in thriller

Day-night Test, PHOTOS: Australia edge out New Zealand in thriller

Last updated on: November 29, 2015 17:27 IST
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Australia's Peter Siddle celebrates after hitting the winning runs as New Zealand's Tim Southee looks on on Day 3 of the Third Test at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on Sunday

IMAGE: Australia's Peter Siddle celebrates after hitting the winning runs as New Zealand's Tim Southee looks on on Day 3 of the Third Test at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on Sunday. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

Australia beat New Zealand by three wickets in a nail-biting encounter to win the first ever day-night Test, the third Test of the series at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Australia claimed the three-match Test series 2-0, ending New Zealand's run of seven consecutive series without loss dating back to 2013.

Scorecard

Following Shaun Marsh’s wicket two overs earlier, Australia needed 12 runs. He was followed into the pavilion by’keeper Peter Neville, who was brilliantly caught behind by BJ Watling.

Mitchell Starc walked in with two runs to win. Peter Siddle hit the winning runs through point to get the Aussies across the line.

The Australian team pose with the Trans-Tasman trophy after beating New Zealand and winning the series 2-0 on Sunday 

IMAGE: The Australian team pose with the Trans-Tasman trophy after beating New Zealand and winning the series 2-0 on Sunday. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Fired by a five-wicket haul by swing specialist Trent Boult, New Zealand mowed through the top order to leave the hosts 115-4 shortly after the dinner-break.

Their bowlers returned to capture late wickets and turn what should have been a procession into a cliff-hanger in front of the crowd of 33,923.

The 187-run target ultimately proved too little to defend.

Shaun Marsh

IMAGE: New Zealand's Ross Taylor, right, watches as Australia's Shaun Marsh hits a boundary during Day 3 of the 3rd Test at the Adelaide Oval. Photograph: David Gray/Reuters

Earlier, Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh drove Australia to within 74 runs of a series-winning victory at the dinner-break in the third and final Test in Adelaide on Sunday after New Zealand's pacemen captured three early wickets.

Doug Bracewell dismissed David Warner and Trent Boult removed opening batsman Joe Burns and captain Steven Smith to leave Australia wobbling at 66-3, still perilously short of their 187-run victory target.

But Voges and Marsh survived the stiffest of examinations as the pink ball, developed specially for the first day-night Test, hooped around on a sunny afternoon at Adelaide Oval.

Voges survived a review for lbw in the final over before the break to be 27 not out, with Marsh unbeaten on 24, the pair having built a 47-run partnership to push Australia to 113-3.

Mitchell Santner

IMAGE: New Zealand's Mitchell Santner is stumped out by Australian wicket keeper Peter Nevill off a delivery by Nathan Lyon. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Further challenges will come for the duo, who must negotiate the evening session, when the swinging ball can be difficult for the batsmen to see clearly under the floodlights.

Warner and Burns got Australia's chase off to a flying start, poaching a run a ball to reach 30 after five overs before Burns was trapped lbw for 11 by Boult, having not played a shot.

In the 11th over, the pressure told on Australia captain Smith, who top-edged a shot high on the leg-side but was dropped on two runs by a back-pedalling Mitchell Santner in the full glare of the sun.

Doug Bracewell limited the damage, however, dismissing Warner for 35, the opener wafting at a shorter delivery and sending a nick flying to Tim Southee in the slips.

Seven balls later left-armer Boult struck a decisive blow, dismissing Smith lbw for 14 to leave Australia wobbling at 66-3.

But Voges and Marsh survived a tense hour to guide Australia's innings past 100 runs.

Josh Hazlewood of Australia

IMAGE: Australia’s Josh Hazlewood holds up the ball after taking 5 wickets. Photograph: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

 Josh Hazlewood earlier finished with career-best figures of 6-70 as New Zealand, who resumed the day on 116-5, were bowled out for 208, adding 92 runs from their last five wickets.

Hazlewood struck with the ninth ball of the day to remove BJ Watling for seven, the wicketkeeper edging to Smith in the slips, and the paceman had his fifth victim of the innings when Mark Craig nicked behind for 15.

Bracewell and spin-bowling all-rounder Santner built a useful 35-run partnership but Lyon ended it by luring Santner down the pitch and having him stumped for 45.

Pace bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh captured his third wicket of the innings when Tim Southee, on 16, miscued a pull with Lyon jogging along the rope to take the catch.

Bracewell finished unbeaten on 27, with Hazlewood wrapping up the innings by bowling Boult for five.

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