Australia v New Zealand, second Test, day four: Alex Carey leads the way to pull off miracle win in nervy chase

Australia have managed to snatch victory from the most unlikely of positions, after the under pressure Alex Carey spearheaded a stunning chase to seal a series clean sweep of New Zealand. But he never stopped believing.

Alex Carey insists his confidence never wavered after the wicketkeeper played the innings of his life to inflict further Trans-Tasman heartbreak on New Zealand.

Arriving at the crease with Australia 5-80 chasing 279 to secure a 2-0 series win, Carey silenced those questioning his spot in the side with an outstanding unbeaten 98 to earn player of the match honours in Australia’s three-wicket win at Hagley Oval.

Carey combined with Mitch Marsh (80) in a breathless 140-run sixth-wicket stand, Australia’s highest partnership for any wicket across five Tests thus far in 2024.

The Carey and Marsh partnership was crucial to victory. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Debutant Ben Sears removed Marsh and Mitchell Starc in consecutive balls only for skipper Pat Cummins to nervelessly compile 32 not out, slapping the winning runs off Sears.

The boundary denied Carey the chance at a century, with Cummins saying at the post-match presentation that he hadn’t even known the gloveman was so close to what would have been a second Test ton.

Not that any gloss was taken off what Carey had achieved.

Carey fell two short of a second Test century, but remained unbeaten in the successful chase. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

The wicketkeeper’s position in the Test team was increasingly in the spotlight after the South Australian’s average fell below 30 following scores of 10 and three in the first Test, twice caught in the cover region.

A miscued sweep to end his first innings in Christchurch only amplified the scrutiny for a player dropped from the one-day team during the World Cup and whose replacement Josh Inglis had scored a match-winning century for Western Australia last week.

Carey took an Australian record-equalling 10 catches in the second Test – albeit also dropping Tom Latham – but it was his batting rather than his ‘keeping that would have left him vulnerable for next season without a turnaround.

Any of that chat has now been definitively quelled, however.

Carey had been upbeat about his batting heading into the series on the back of a Shield 90 for South Australia and reiterated on Monday that he hadn’t lost faith in his game.

“I slept better last night than the night before when I dropped the catch, that’s for sure but yeah, (I was) confident,” Carey said.

“I feel like I came into the series batting well at Sheffield Shield level and (I was) a little bit disappointed with the first game’s dismissals.

But I was confident (of succeeding in the run chase). I thought again, if we could get through that first burst and the wicket flattened out a little bit. So to be able to do that, build that partnership, stay really focused and just chip away at the scoreboard was, yeah, it was good.”

Carey agreed that he had been batting well just succumbing to “silly” dismissals during a slump in which he made just two half-centuries in his preceding 10 Tests.

Carey’s match-winning knock clinched the series against New Zealand two-nil. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

“You can look at it like that. I think so. It’s probably the way I play a little bit. I try to create and at times I’ve tried to create a little bit too much but I thought today I kept to a really solid plan. You know, read the conditions, read the bowlers and I guess the partnership as well. So yeah happy with how today went.”

As was the case at Leeds and Melbourne last year, Marsh punished opposition sloppiness in the field, having been dropped on 28 by Rachin Ravindra off the bowling of Tim Southee.

The Black Caps captain struck the following ball though as Travis Head departed after playing a mirror image shot, held by Will Young to end the left-hander’s innings on 18.

The Ravindra drop could haunt NZ for months if not years to come. The Black Caps have not won a Test against Australia on home soil since 1993, a drought that will be approaching four decades come the next future tours program cycle.

The result also meant the Aussies leapfrogged NZ into second spot on the World Test Championship standings.

Southee would meanwhile not guarantee that he would retain the Test captaincy come the side’s next scheduled assignments in Asia later this year.

Re-live the action live below!

1.57PM: AUSSIES WIN! CAREY SPEARHEADS STUNNING FIGHTBACK

There it is! Australia wins, sealing a 2-0 series sweep of New Zealand.

Pat Cummins punches a boundary through the covers to polish off the final runs, leaving Alex Carey stranded on 98 in his pursuit of a century. But he won’t be too troubled, because he’s just put together a tremendous knock to steal a Test win from New Zealand.

Australia win by three wickets, having fought back from 5-80.

1.52PM: VICTORY MARGIN DOWN TO SINGLE FIGURES

A classical on drive from Pat Cummins sinks another dagger into the hearts of New Zealand cricket fans – it reaches the boundary, and suddenly Australia are just seven runs from victory.

Cummins has scored 28 off 40 in this partnership – he’s faced the lion’s share of the strike, but that is a fantastic contribution in the 52-run partnership.

1.45PM: AUSSIES CREEP TOWARDS EPIC VICTORY

This is slipping away quickly for New Zealand, who have come up against the Pat Cummins brick wall since Ben Sears’ double blow.

Cummins is channelling his Edgbaston Ashes heroics and added 43 runs with Alex Carey for the eighth wicket.

That has brought Australia to within 16 runs of victory. Nerves are frayed all around Hagley Oval right now.

Australia's Pat Cummins (L) and Alex Carey chip away at the target. Picture: AFP

1:30PM AEDT: CAPTAIN PAT STANDING TALL

Pat Cummins, familiar with getting Australia home in nervy chases, proving a more than reliable partner for Alex Carey.

Almost out first ball, the Australian captain has been virtually chanceless since and Australia reach the drinks break at 7-248 needing 31 to win.

Cummins has raced to 20 off 32, with Carey on 78.

1:06PM AEDT: WICKET, WICKET, EDGED …

But it doesn’t carry.

Ben Sears has blown the door off this Test, knocking over Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc in back-to-back balls, and just missing out on a hat-trick.

A searing inswinger strikes Marsh (80) flush on the pads, and umpire Erasmus takes little time to gun him off. The review can’t save him, with it deemed umpire’s call, striking the leg stump.

On the very next ball he has Starc caught tamely at short mid-wicket for a golden duck.

For half a second a hat-trick looked his as he drew an edge from Pat Cummins – alas it fell short of the cordon and raced through to the ropes.

Australia 7-225, needing 54 to win.

Ben Sears has opened this Test right up. Picture: Sanka Vidanagama/AFP

12:50:PM AEDT: AUSTRALIA ON COURSE

Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey are looking more and more at ease out in the middle, making steady progress in the chase.

After a nervy start to the session, Australia’s run-rate has climbed to 4.11 after lunch with this partnership now worth 131.

After a horror start to the day, the tourists have slowly but surely become favourites for this Test.

5-211.

12:25PM AEDT: A NERVY RESUMPTION

After a helter-skelter finish to the opening session, the two sides are feeling each other out after lunch.

Southee is operating from one end with a man between first and second slip, and a gully as New Zealand look to make Australia earn their runs.

Marsh and Carey slowly their tempo to match the Black Caps.

Australia require 100 to win.

LUNCH: MOMENTUM WITH AUSTRALIA

Lunch at Hagley Oval and after the early loss of Travis Head, Australia has fought its way back into the Test thanks to a 94-run stand between Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey.

There’s been plenty of luck along the way – Marsh enjoyed a reprieve in the second over of the day – with plenty of runs picked up via edges through the cordon and one maiden over featuring 10 byes/leg-buys.

But alongside the luck there’s been plenty of impressive stroke play, with Carey and Marsh both capitalising on anything too short or too full.

Both batters raised their half-centuries in the session, and it is a particularly noteworthy performance from Carey who was starting to face mounting pressure over his spot in the side.

In another boost for the Australians, New Zealand are down to one review, losing their second in the final over before lunch – an lbw review against Marsh off the bowling of Glenn Phillips that snicko suggests Marsh got a feather on.

Going into lunch, Australia need 105 to win. 5-174

Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey have kept Australia alive. Picture: Sanka Vidanagama/AFP

11:10AM AEDT: CAREY SURVIVES REVIEW

Huge appeal from New Zealand for caught behind against Alex Carey but the umpire says no.

It’s a short ball from Scott Kuggeleijn that Carey looks to upper cut and the cordon are adamant the ball flicked the bat on its way through to the keeper; Southee wasting little time calling for a review.

But it’s a flatline all the way through on Snicko and Carey, who never really looked worried, survives.

It’s been a positive innings from Carey (38*) so far, featuring six boundaries – some of those have been edges through the cordon.

Mitchell Maarsh brings up his half-century with a boundary off the final ball of the over and this partnership is now worth 68, with Australia 5-148. Both teams have two reviews remaining.

10:43AM AEDT: REVIEW SAVES CAREY

A celebrappeal from Matt Henry and the umpire says ‘yes, that is clattering into the stumps’.

On 19, Alex Carey weighs up the review for a long time before finally pulling the trigger.

To my eye this looks like it is crashing into leg stump. It’s struck him flush on the knee-roll and he hasn’t taken a particularly long stride out.

Missing! Ball-tracking says it is going down leg and Carey survives.

Drinks at 5-116.

That's a brilliant review by Alex Carey 👏😅

📺 Don’t miss a ball of #AUSvNZ on Kayo Sports: https://t.co/BtKGJLIGHn
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— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 10, 2024

10:35AM AEDT: CAREY AND MARSH REBUILD

Under plenty of pressure, Alex Carey has looked positive so far.

The Australian keeper signalled he was in fine fettle with a glorious cover drive early in his innings and followed that up with an upper cut over the cordon to move to 11 off 15. He’s slowed down since, though that’s largely down to Marsh having the bulk of the strike.

Closing in on a half-century, the all-rounder has not always looked convincing on a track that is still offering something to the seamers, but when he has had a swing, he has gone at it full blooded. 5-112

10:05AM AEDT: DROPPED! GONE! ALL HAPPENING!

A clanger at point from Rachin Ravindra grants Mitchell Marsh a huge life. Short of a length from Tim Southee and Marsh looks to cut but plays in the air low to the right of Ravindra who really should have held on.

But it’s all smiles for New Zealand just a ball later, with Travis Head picking out the man at point perfectly to fall for 18. It’s a loose shot from Head, who quietly has averaged 24.45 since the start of the Australian Test summer.

Australia 5-80, with the under pressure Alex Carey the new man in.

Travis Head fell early on day four. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

10AM AEDT: CRICKET AT LAST!

An hour later than expected, but we’re underway at Hagley Oval with the Test favouring New Zealand right now but still somewhat in the balance.

Australia resume at 4-77 with Travis Head (17*) and Mitchell Marsh (27*) looking to knock over the bulk of the 202 runs the tourists still need.

Matt Henry gets first crack on a pitch that might offer something after sweating under the covers through the morning.

9:20AM AEDT: START TIME ANNOUNCED

Rejoice!

The showers have cleared and the covers are coming off. Play set to resume at 12pm New Zealand time – 10am AEDT, 9am AEST, 9:30am ACDT, 7am AWST.

The first session is set to be 90 minutes, and given the conditions it could be tricky out there for the Aussie batters.

Day 4 session times (local)

First Session 1200-1330 (1245 drinks)

Lunch 1330-1410

Second Session 1410-1640 (1525 drinks)

Tea 1640-1700

Third Session 1700-1900 (1800 drinks) + 30min for slow overs etc.

9AM AEDT: START OFFICIALLY DELAYED

The rain has set in and unsurprisingly the start of play has been delayed.

Hagley Oval still looks a picture though.

The scene at Hagley pic.twitter.com/WAIVE2HDQa

— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) March 10, 2024

8:35AM AEDT: EARLY DRIZZLE

There were early morning showers in Christchurch but they had cleared a couple of hours out from play.

The bad news is, they’ve just returned with the pitch going under covers. The good news is, the locals don’t think the rain will be about long.

With a bit of weather about and the pitch getting a chance to sweat under the covers, it could make for a tricky first hour for the Australians when play does commence.

PREVIEW: Australia’s final hurdle in punishing two years

– Daniel Cherny

Australia is seeking to summon one final effort to end a punishing stretch of Test cricket dating back to late 2022.

The second Test in Christchurch, beginning on Friday, marks Australia’s 22nd Test since late November, 2022, a period that has marked two full home summer schedules, Test tours of India and England, a World Test Championships final and an away Test series in New Zealand.

That’s before even noting the seven-week campaign to win the World Cup last year, myriad other white-ball series, or the Indian Premier League involvement of Cameron Green.

Finally the end is nigh, with the Aussies not due to play another Test after this date with New Zealand until the home summer when they square up with India.

In between times, the Aussies have a Twenty20 World Cup in June, a handful of bilateral white-ball series – some of which are in doubt – while many are due to play in some or all of the IPL, county cricket, The Hundred and the US-based Major League Cricket.

Still, this clash at Hagley Oval marks a full stop of sorts.

“We know this is the one last big push for a while, and that’s been a lot of the focus in the last week or so,” Australian captain Pat Cummins said.

“It’s getting that balance right between ‘we’ll stretch ourselves as far as we can this time’ with a few guys resting this week around training, making sure they’re right, while other guys are piling on the training.

“So it’s all geared towards this being the last big week for a while.”

Originally published as Australia v New Zealand, second Test, day four: Alex Carey leads the way to pull off miracle win in nervy chase