Peter Siddle struck the winning runs under the Adelaide Oval floodlights to seal a series-winning victory against New Zealand after Australia had all but collapsed late on day three of the third and final Test.
With his side deduced to 185-7 in pursuit of a victory target of 187 and having to overcome the emotion of his grandmother’s death during the course of the game, Siddle pushed two runs past point and his injured batting partner Mitchell Starc hobbled up and down the pitch with a broken foot to complete the three-wicket win. Batsman Shaun Marsh had earlier fallen just short of a half-century but his 49 anchored important stands with Adam Voges and his younger brother Mitchell in cricket’s inaugural day-night Test.
Australia wrapped up the series 2-0, ending New Zealand’s run of seven consecutive series without loss, dating back to 2013. 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.
The 187-run target ultimately proved too little to defend and Siddle’s inelegant shot to seal the win sparked a thunderous roar from the crowd of 33,923. Paceman and man-of-the-match Josh Hazlewood was vital for Australia, capturing a career-best 6-70 in the absence of injured spearhead Mitchell Starc to limit New Zealand to 208 in the third innings.
Boult dismissed Voges for 28 straight after the dinner-break but all-rounder Mitchell Marsh joined his older brother at the crease and compiled a brisk 28 to push Australia within 26 runs of their target. Mitchell Marsh bashed a six over the head of spin-bowling all-rounder Mitch Santner but was out swiping at the next delivery, the skied top-edge well-caught by a scrambling Kane Williamson.
The final runs trickled rather than gushed and Shaun Marsh grew jumpy as victory and his 50 approached. His tentative push at Boult ended in the safe hands of Ross Taylor in the slips leaving Australia 11 runs short of their total. Wicketkeeper Peter Nevill then fell for 10 to leave Australia two runs short of the victory with three wickets in hand.
The match was won earlier in the day, however, when Hazlewood took three wickets to restrict New Zealand to 92 runs on top of their overnight total of 116-5. Hazlewood struck with the ninth ball of the day to remove wicketkeeper BJ Watling for seven and had Mark Craig nick behind for 15. He later wrapped up New Zealand’s innings by bowling Boult for five, with Mitchell Marsh capturing 3-59.
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