Spinner Nathan Lyon grabbed four wickets as Australia completed a crushing 247-run victory on Day Four of the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand on Sunday to claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
After setting a huge 488-run victory target, Tim Paine’s side bowled out the Black Caps for 240 after tea, with Lyon breaking their resistance in the afternoon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground following a withering pace assault by James Pattinson in the morning.
Oz’s unbeaten run against their trans-Tasman neighbours has now stretched to 25 years, leaving a battered and bruised New Zealand playing only for pride in the third and final Test in Sydney this week.
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— ICC (@ICC)
Having thrashed Kane Williamson’s team by 296 runs in the day-night opener in Perth, Australia have claimed victory in four successive Tests since retaining the Ashes in England.
And captain Paine says: “I thought the way we went about this Test from the moment we lost the toss was outstanding.”
Reuters