NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA, First Trans-Tasman Trophy Test
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Basin Reserve, Wellington, Day Three
SCORE: Australia, 383 and 164, lead by 257 over New Zealand 179 and 3-111
SUMMARY: Australia resumed at 2-13 with Nathan Lyon and Usman Khawaja, but few would have predicted the nightwatchman taking control. Lyon threw the bat around and finished with 41 - falling short of a maiden half-century but Australia's top scorer. The tourists couldn't put together a 50-run stand and collapsed late, losing 6-37 to be all out for 164. Glenn Phillips was the unlikely destroyer with 5-45, including the wicket of Cam Green for the first time in the Test. Despite Australia's disappointing second dig, their first-innings exploits left New Zealand a mammoth target of 369. Tom Latham, Will Young and - crucially - Kane Williamson couldn't make it to the end of the day, but Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell put up firm resistance to last the final hour together. They will start day four on 56 and 12 respectively, with New Zealand still 258 runs from a winning total, but not without a chance.
PLAYER OF THE MOMENT: Glenn Phillips. The part-time spinner came up trumps for New Zealand despite a late-blooming Test bowling career. The 27-year-old hadn't bowled at Test level until this summer but now has a five-for to his name and should be considered an allrounder of genuine quality.
STAT OF THE DAY: Set 369, New Zealand will need to pull off their biggest-ever fourth-innings chase to win. Their previous best is 324 in Christchurch against Pakistan in 1994.
Australian Associated Press
