Australia vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at Melbourne, Dec 26 2019, ICC World Test Championship

RESULT
2nd Test, Melbourne, December 26 - 29, 2019, ICC World Test Championship
467 & 168/5d
(T:488) 148 & 240

Australia won by 247 runs

Player Of The Match
114 & 28
travis-head
Match centre 
Scores: @Thilak_Rama | Comms: Alex Malcolm
Scorecard summary
Australia 467/10(155.1 overs)
1st INNINGS
114 (234)
4/83 (38)
85 (242)
3/103 (33.1)
New Zealand 148/10(54.5 overs)
1st INNINGS
50 (144)
5/28 (17)
18* (20)
3/34 (15)
Australia 168/5(54.2 overs)
2nd INNINGS
38 (65)
3/50 (17.2)
35 (100)
New Zealand 240/9(71 overs)
2nd INNINGS
121 (210)
4/81 (23)
end of over 718 runs • 2 wickets
NZ: 240/10CRR: 3.38 
Neil Wagner6 (7b 1x4)
Marnus Labuschagne 3-1-11-1
Nathan Lyon 23-4-81-4

Australia win by 247 runs. Tom Blundell gets a standing ovation as he walks off for 121. That was a mighty effort and he deserves all the applause that has come his way. Australia were far too good though with bat and ball. They made 467 after being sent in and then blew New Zealand's top order apart. Pat Cummins and James Pattinson did the damage. Today was too big a mountain to climb. But Blundell made a name for himself with a world class century. Nathan Lyon bagged four as Blundell got no support from anyone really bar some small cameos from Watling and Santner.

Presentation

Kane Williamson: "I felt like there was enough in the surface to bowl first and it was obviously very important for us to be on top of our game and the surface did offer some sideways movement and swing but credit to Australia for getting through that first session and put 400 on the board. They've got a fantastic attack with pace and bounce but their accuracy stood apart and they did seem to get more out of that surface. All round from our perspective we need to be better in all departments. We do need to be better come Sydney. We haven't been at our best but it is important that we try and learn really quickly and improve in all areas."

Tim Paine: "Very pleasing. I thought the way we went about this Test from the moment we lost the toss was outstanding. I thought our batters applied themselves superbly on day one and made it easy for Trav and I on the second day to set up a big total. Then I thought our bowlers led by Pat Cummins in the first innings were superb. Got the lead we wanted and gave our bowlers a rest and again I thought James Pattinson started the rot today. We're sharing the load. We can't rely on too few and good teams have guys contributing throughout the list and we're starting to do that. It was a great surface. Guys who batted well could score runs and the bowlers who bowled well were hard work."

Player of the Match is Travis Head: "Amazing to contribute to an Australian win. We've put together a great performance. They tested me the whole time. I was very happy to get through the hard periods which I didn't do last time. As the number six batsman you are the first person talked about. I was ready to go and prepared well and I tried to perform as best I can."

Australia win the series 2-0 and get an extra day off ahead of the third Test in Sydney. New Zealand have some work to do and decisions to make. Trent Boult will head home and a replacement will need to be found but you would suspect other changes will be made.

Thanks for your company this week. Join us again in four days time for the third Test in Sydney. Until then, goodbye.

70.6
W
Labuschagne to Blundell, OUT

caught at mid on! Lyon takes this one! That's the end of the Test. They're shaking hands. The umpires are sending the catch upstairs to check. It was tossed up, he miscued a lofted drive flat to mid on, Lyon caught it cleanly. His fingers were under it. The replays show that clearly despite boos from the New Zealand fans.

Tom Blundell c Lyon b Labuschagne 121 (210b 15x4 0x6 321m) SR: 57.61
70.5
Labuschagne to Blundell, no run

short and wide, he cracks this to cover-point but doesn't beat the man

70.4
4
Labuschagne to Blundell, FOUR runs

full toss and he smears this wide of mid on to the rope! He is jumping all over Marnus

70.3
Labuschagne to Blundell, no run

tossed up, he whips to mid on

70.2
Labuschagne to Blundell, no run

dropped! Caught and bowled chance! This was smoked back at him chest high, he got both hands to it and put it down

70.1
4
Labuschagne to Blundell, FOUR runs

short and wide, he rocks back and smashes this through cover! He is feasting on some of this now

end of over 7013 runs
NZ: 232/8CRR: 3.31 
Neil Wagner6 (7b 1x4)
Tom Blundell113 (204b 13x4)
Nathan Lyon 23-4-81-4
Marnus Labuschagne 2-1-3-0
69.6
4
Lyon to Wagner, FOUR runs

missed return chance! It was hot. Wagner skipped out and thumped a drive back and Lyon and he couldn't get hands to it as it flew past his head and away to the rope!

69.5
1
Lyon to Blundell, 1 run

tossed up slower, he skips out and drives to long on

69.4
Lyon to Blundell, no run

fired wide of off, he leaves this one alone

Over the wicket

69.3
4
Lyon to Blundell, FOUR runs

and again! Short again and he pulls to the same spot! Two mistakes from Lyon

69.2
4
Lyon to Blundell, FOUR runs

short drag down, he's back and hammering a pull behind square! Good footwork and he smoked it

Around the wicket

69.1
Lyon to Blundell, no run

tossed up outside leg, he pads up

end of over 693 runs
NZ: 219/8CRR: 3.17 
Neil Wagner2 (6b)
Tom Blundell104 (199b 11x4)
Marnus Labuschagne 2-1-3-0
Nathan Lyon 22-4-68-4

Grant Robinson: "Was that on Blundell? Southee said no and Blundell was nearly halfway down the pitch." Not sure why Southee said no. It was nearly two

68.6
Labuschagne to Wagner, no run

this bites from a leg, rips the glove and pops into the off side again! No silly mid off

Slip, leg slip and short leg

68.5
Labuschagne to Wagner, no run

tossed up, spinning in, he gets an inside edge onto pad and it rolls into the off side but there's no silly mid off

Around the wicket

Dougo : "That's one way to ensure you carry your bat - run your teammates out!" Not sure it was his fault.

68.4
1
Labuschagne to Blundell, 1 run

short and wide, he's back and cutting hard to deep point

68.3
2
Labuschagne to Blundell, 2 runs

full toss, he skips down and whips this wide of deep midwicket for a couple

68.2
Labuschagne to Blundell, no run

tossed higher, he skips out and drives hard to cover

68.1
Labuschagne to Blundell, no run

tossed up on off, he defends

Blundell in the Black Cap

end of over 682 runs • 1 wicket
NZ: 216/8CRR: 3.17 
Neil Wagner2 (4b)
Tom Blundell101 (195b 11x4)
Nathan Lyon 22-4-68-4
Marnus Labuschagne 1-1-0-0
67.6
Lyon to Wagner, no run

pushed through on leg, he's back and defending

67.5
Lyon to Wagner, no run

good length on off, he defends from the crease

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
TA Blundell
121 runs (210)
15 fours0 six
Productive shot
pull
36 runs
7 fours0 six
Control
85%
TM Head
114 runs (234)
12 fours0 six
Productive shot
cut shot
30 runs
5 fours0 six
Control
86%
Best performances - bowlers
PJ Cummins
O
17
M
5
R
28
W
5
ECO
1.64
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
2W
1W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
N Wagner
O
38
M
11
R
83
W
4
ECO
2.18
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W
1W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
1W
Match details
Melbourne Cricket Ground
TossNew Zealand, elected to field first
Series
Season2019/20
Player Of The Match
Series resultAustralia led the 3-match series 2-0
Match numberTest no. 2376
Hours of play (local time)10.30 start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30
Match days26,27,28,29 December 2019 - day (5-day match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
PointsAustralia 40, New Zealand 0
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Instant answers to T20 questions
New Zealand Innings
<1 / 3>

ICC World Test Championship

TEAMMWLDPTRPWR
IND1712415201.577
ENG2111734421.12
NZ117404201.281
AUS148423321.392
PAK124532860.822
SA135802640.787
SL122642000.729
WI133821940.661
BAN7061200.601