Four hours later, the second test ended like so many before, Australian arms raised and a three-wicket win secured.
Where did it go wrong? A second-over drop from Rachin Ravindra certainly didn’t help, allowing Mitch Marsh to add 52 extra runs. Nor a subsequent series-high 140-run stand for the sixth wicket between Marsh and player of the match Alex Carey (98no).
The match slipping away, debutant Ben Sears delivered a two-ball electric jolt to remove Marsh and Mitchell Starc, enlivening what had become an increasingly despondent crowd.
But Australia are world champions for a reason, recovering to strengthen their stranglehold on this rivalry with a 2-0 series sweep, spoiling the centenary test of Tim Southee and Kane Williamson.
That pair know well how this result feels, but Southee must have allowed himself hope when, after an hour delay, Travis Head carved his third ball straight to Will Young.
Ravindra had spilled Marsh from the previous delivery but there would be no repeat. On the banks, jackets had been removed and voices were raised, hinting at a golden afternoon.
Five more to get and Marsh seemed a walking wicket. He sent an outside edge beyond slip to the fence, had his bat beaten, blazed wide of the field, and watched in horror as an inside edge rebounded off his pad to trickle barely past the stumps.
But, perhaps buoyed by that charmed existence, both he and Carey played a few nice shots to creep gradually closer to the target.
Just before the drinks break, Matt Henry thought he had Carey. Such was his confidence, instead of arms extended in appeal the bowler’s elbows were cocked in a celebratory fist pump.
But Henry was a little more apprehensive once Carey reviewed and replays clarified how much the ball had swung, enough to be missing leg stump. The wicketkeeper escaped and began forging a great knock.
Collective nerves ticked up a notch with the second review of the day, this time requested by New Zealand after Carey waved at a short ball. All eyes turned to the big screen. No spike.
Alex Carey and Mitch Marsh nearly landed a knockout punch. Photo / Photosport
Consecutive boundaries before lunch owed a bit to fortune — one coming off Marsh’s body, the other the toe of Carey’s bat — and suggested this might be Australia’s day. A third blazed through the covers by Carey brought the deficit near 100 and reinforced that feeling.
The wicketkeeper soon had 50 from 61 balls, banishing a recent lean run, and the Black Caps needed a break. But not before Glenn Phillips finally rolled over his golden arm for the first time and, as is his wont, immediately forged a chance, seeing his review declined by the revelation of the tiniest slither of bat before ball struck Marsh’s pad.
Upon resumption, Australia’s target was reduced to double figures and desperation seeped through the crowd. Bump balls brought ripples of excitement, swings and misses sparked yelps.
Southee was loose, Marsh leaned back and collected easy runs — 10 from the 48th over. With the new ball out of sight, Australia were heading the same direction.
Last summer at the Basin Reserve, however, England were 57 runs from of a similar-sized target when their sixth wicket fell. Sears reappeared today when 59 were required and immediately beat the bat of Marsh. Much better was to come.
Ben Sears pulled the Black Caps back into the match. Photo / Photosport
The debutant’s next delivery crashed into pads and the crowd leapt to its feet as Marais Erasmus’ finger ascended. Marsh asked for a review and replays left the decision in the hands of the South African, standing in his final test and never more popular.
Only killjoy journalists remained seated as Sears summarily returned Starc to the pavilion, turning one straight to Young and recording a golden duck.
Pat Cummins pushed at the hat-trick ball and was rewarded with four as it dropped short and squirmed past the corden. Australia were, atypically, under pressure.
But they had the right men in the middle. Only half-chances came as optimism left: one slash from Carey flew agonisingly beyond the fingertips of a full-stretch Phillips; the wicketkeeper’s edge off Henry raced over the rope.
Fans first trickled towards the exit when Cummins’ drive down the ground brought up a 50-run stand. More bags were packed with Carey’s pulled four.
The touring skipper soon ended the series — and ended unbeaten on 32 — to take a clean sweep back across the Tasman. Again.
