Christchurch: Brendon McCullum drew the curtain on his illustrious batting career as a typically pugnacious but short-lived innings Monday was unable to loosen Australia’s firm grip on the second Test in Christchurch.
On an emotional day when players and fans marked the fifth anniversary of the devastating Christchurch earthquake, the captain’s departure in his 101st and final Test left New Zealand staring down the barrel.
At the end of the third day New Zealand were 121-4, needing a further 14 to make Australia bat again and with hopes receding of a series-levelling victory.
McCullum arrived for his farewell innings at 72-3 but after 25 off 27 deliveries, the man who hit the fastest ever Test century in the first innings was out.
His second-to-last whack sent Josh Hazlewood for a record-extending 107th six over square leg. But when he danced down the wicket for a repeat performance off the next ball he was caught by David Warner.
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand (1st innings): 370
Australia (1st innings): D. Warner c Guptill b Boult 12, J. Burns c Guptill b Wagner 170, U. Khawaja c McCullum b Boult 24, S. Smith c Guptill b Wagner 138, A. Voges c Latham b Wagner 60, N. Lyon c McCullum b Williamson 33, M. Marsh c Nicholls b Wagner 18, P. Nevill c Watling b Wagner 13, J. Pattinson c Boult b Anderson 1, J. Hazlewood c McCullum b Wagner 13, J. Bird (not out) 4. Extras (b9, lb10) 19. Total (in 153.1 overs) 505.
FoW: 1-25, 2-67, 3-356, 4-357, 5-438, 6-464, 7-483, 8-484, 9-496.
Bowling: Southee 25-4-85-0, Boult 31-5-108-2, Henry 32-8-101-0, Anderson 22-2-66-1, Wagner 32.1-6-106-6, Williamson 7-0-17-1, McCullum 4-2-3-0.
New Zealand (2nd innings): T. Latham c Nevill b Pattinson 39, M. Guptill c Nevill b Pattinson 0, K. Williamson (batting) 45, H. Nicholls c Smith b Pattinson 2, B. McCullum c Warner b Hazlewood 25, C. Anderson (batting) 9. Extras: (nb1) 1. Total (for four wickets in 44 overs) 121.
FoW: 1-8, 2-66, 3-72, 4-105.
Bowling: Hazlewood 15-5-40-1, Pattinson 12-5-29-3, Bird 7-1-26-0, Lyon 2-0-8-0, Marsh 8-2-18-0.
