Australia’s middle order squeaked out a mighty Test win in Christchurch, where Alex Carey’s fighting 98 not out defied New Zealand to wrap up a 2-0 series victory. Carey and Mitch Marsh, who made 80, did the business for Australia, which stumbled to 4-34 before reaching 281-7 to win.
Combining after the early loss of Travis Head (18) at 80-5, Marsh and Carey put on 140 runs together – the biggest partnership of the series, when the pressure was at its heaviest. New Zealand debutant Ben Sears gave Australia a mighty shake, removing Marsh and then Mitchell Starc in two balls to reduce the tourists to 220-7.
After Pat Cummins survived the hat-trick ball, the captain played a steady hand alongside his wicketkeeper, steering Australia to victory in their last outing of the summer.
Cummins robbed Carey of a century, making 32 off 44 to leave his teammate just shy of a mighty ton. Not that the pair will mind, embracing in the middle after the captain scored the winning runs with a boundary at point.
Cummins’ presence to the end evoked memories of the first Ashes Test last year, when Australia chased 283 at Edgbaston in a series-defining moment. While Australia’s fight must be applauded, the Hagley Oval win was more of a bits-and-pieces victory after several batting failures.
On a nervy day on the South Island, the Kiwi bowlers were unable to cash in when play began after an hour-long rain delay. Nine wickets in the first three days suggested Matt Henry would be the dangerman, but instead Tim Southee was causing the most trouble.
Marsh and Head both offered up their wickets in Southee’s first over of the day, both cutting straight to point a ball apart.
Rachin Ravindra dropped a dolly to give Marsh a reprieve and a run, but Will Young made no mistake when Head offered a carbon-copy shot for a left-hander on the next delivery. Ravindra’s blunder was a reminder of the gulf in fielding skill: the Black Caps dropped nine chances across the two Tests.
Carey joined Marsh in the middle and the pair set about the chase at pace. Australia had two full days to reel in their target, but the new ball after 80 overs loomed large given the threat of the Kiwi seamers.
Their century stand wasn’t chanceless: Marsh almost played on from Southee’s bowling, and Carey fell the right side of two reviews. The South Australian kicked on, raising his bat for a half-century in the second last over before lunch.
Thanks mainly to the expensive Scott Kuggeleijn – costing his side 10 byes in one over – Australia scored 62 in the last 10 overs before the main break.
Sears struck in his first over after lunch, removing Marsh lbw and Starc out caught at square leg, beaten for pace. Under lights, Glenn Phillips, Southee and Henry all probed in their hopes of an eighth wicket, but couldn’t find the next breakthrough.
The win is just Australia’s second of 16 chases – along with Edgbaston – over 200 since they last won at Hagley Oval in 2016. It also confirms Australia’s mental stranglehold over New Zealand. Not since 1993 have the Black Caps beaten Australia on home soil, a run that has kept the Trans-Tasman Trophy in Australia’s hands for the last 30 years.