Labuschagne double lifts Aus to 454
New Zealand made a secure start after a Marnus Labuschagne double century lifted Australia to a massive 454 first innings total in the third Test yesterday.
The rock-solid number three reached his highest Test score of 215 in Sydney with the Australians dismissed just before tea on the second day.
In reply, the Blackcaps grittily batted through the final session without losing a wicket, leaving skipper Tom Latham on 26 and Melbourne Test centurion Tom Blundell at 34 in their team’s total of 63.
There were a couple of close calls -- notably a leg before wicket appeal off Nathan Lyon and a possible edge off Pat Cummins -- but the Kiwis showed plenty of fight after enduring five tough sessions in the field in sapping heat.
The day belonged to Labuschagne, who sweated on 199 for 20 minutes before he thick edged Colin de Grandhomme through the vacant slips to the ropes to bring up his double ton.
The milestone came off 363 balls with 19 fours and a six and eclipsed his previous Test record of 185 against Pakistan in Brisbane last November.
The Kiwis finally dispatched him after he was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Todd Astle.
Skipper Tim Paine supported Labuschagne to reach his double century before he was bowled between his bat and pad by de Grandhomme for 35.
Paine faced 92 balls and shared in a 79-run stand with Labuschagne to take Australia beyond 400.
SCORES IN BIREF:
Australia: first innings 454 all out (Labuschagne 215, Smith 63, Warner 45; Wagner 3-66, Grandhomme 3-78)
New Zealand: first innings 63 (Blundell 34 not out, Latham 26 not out; Labuschagne 0-1, Lyon 0-13)
Comments