Alex Carey made a wise choice to review and took full advantage of his second chance to approach a second Test century, despite being “happy” to miss out. Mitch Marsh also capitalized on a reprieve to score 80 runs before falling victim to an impressive spell by debutant Ben Sears. Here are the highlights from day four of the second Test in Christchurch.
1. Head offers up a parting gift
Travis Head has been a reliable performer for Australia, often stepping up in challenging situations with his aggressive batting. However, on day four at Hagley Oval, his approach backfired as he was dismissed early in the day. Making matters worse was the fact that he had ignored a warning the ball before, when Mitch Marsh was dropped after playing a reckless shot. Head’s dismissal was a blow to Australia’s hopes.
2. Marsh makes the most of his life
Mitchell Marsh was fortunate to survive a close call, as he was dropped while on 28 by Rachin Ravindra. Despite some nervy moments, Marsh continued to play his shots and eventually reached his half-century, scoring 80 valuable runs for the team.
3. A big review for Carey
Alex Carey played a crucial role in the chase and survived a close lbw appeal after a review showed that the ball was missing leg stump. His decision to challenge the on-field decision proved vital, as he went on to score his eighth Test fifty.
4. A burst of brilliance from Ben
Debutant Ben Sears turned the game around by dismissing Mitch Marsh and Mitchell Starc in quick succession, giving New Zealand hope of a comeback. His impressive spell with the ball kept the Kiwis in the game until the end.
5. Carey ‘happy’ to miss out on a hundred
Alex Carey fell short of a century, but his crucial contributions helped Australia secure victory. Despite missing out on a milestone, Carey was content with his performance and even joked about not wanting to face another ball after reaching 97.
