First day night test match played between Australia and New Zealand with the pink ball at the Adelaide Oval. (Photo courtesy: ICC/Twitter)
The first day-night test played with a pink ball for the first time ever was not disappointing for the 47,441 fans gathered at the Adelaide Oval to watch third Australia vs New Zealand.
A total of 12 wickets tumbled on a dramatic first day with players excited playing before a large appreciative audience.
“It was a great day. Everyone who came and witnessed what went on will be very impressed with the whole experience,” Australia paceman Peter Siddle said.
After winning the toss, New Zealand squandered a positive start with a rash of poor shot selection to be dismissed cheaply for 202 in the twilight early in the late session of the third and final Test.
Pacemen Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell removed Australia’s openers but captain Steve Smith (24 not out) and Adam Voges (nine) dug in to guide the hosts to 54-2 at the close of play under an inky black sky.
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Australia, 1-0 up in the series, took the leading role in nudging a 138-year-old format into prime-time hours so it was fitting that the hosts held a slender advantage at the close.
Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc suffered a stress fracture on his right foot because of which he had limp off the field.
Starc underwent scans after leaving the field in discomfort during the third and final Test against New Zealand after getting figures of 9-3-24-3.
“Mitchell had scans on his right foot this evening which have indicated an early stage stress fracture of his third metatarsal. A decision on his return to play will be determined in due course,” Cricket Australia (CA) physiotherapist David Beakley said.
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Starc, who was the man of the match of the 2015 World Cup, will remain with the squad and will be able to bat if required but will not bowl.
New Zealand crumbled in the middle session, losing three wickets for four runs in 11 balls, with opener Tom Latham, Ross Taylor and McCullum all falling through loose shots.
Spinner Nathan Lyon triggered the rout when Latham bottom-edged to Peter Nevill to be out for 50, the wicketkeeper snaffling a fine catch with the edge of his glove. Taylor holed out for 21 with an unsightly drive off Peter Siddle that sent an inside edge through to Nevill.
McCullum played an impatient captain’s innings and was caught behind for four slashing wildly at Starc.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner, a surprise selection in place of seamer Matt Henry, showed some resilience but Starc returned to bowl him for 31 before exiting the field.
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Starc had captured the prized wicket of Kane Williamson for 22 with a trademark searing yorker, setting the tone for a tough day for New Zealand’s batsmen. Josh Hazlewood was the first to strike, trapping opener Martin Guptill lbw for one run in his second over. He finished with 3-66, with Peter Siddle taking 2-54, his second wicket bringing up 200 in Tests.
Latham became the first to register a half-century in day-night cricket before he was caught behind off Lyon for 50.
(With agencies input)