New Zealand v Australia: second Test, day four – live

A very handy cameo from Alex Carey. He’ll resume after lunch too.

Lunch: Australia 174-5 ( Aus require 105 runs to win)

42nd over: Australia 170-5 (Marsh 51, Carey 50) New Zealand are leaking runs here in the run up towards lunch, they might be very glad to get off the park and regroup in a few minutes. Sears is edged for four by Carey who then crunches to the point fence off the very next ball. Carey picks up another couple of twos to go to a very useful fifty off just 61 balls. Australia are ending the session in dominant style.

41st over: Australia 158-5 (Marsh 51, Carey 38) Kuggeleijn is going to get his Neil Wagner on here and send down a barrage of short stuff. Hmmm – a dodgy start to the bouncer campaign as one flies way wide and over both batter and Blundell and away for four byes. Two more leg byes off Marsh’s rump and then off the final ball of the over another short ball clips Mitch Marsh on the back and runs away for another four. Marsh was taking evasive action so the runs count. What a weird over – a maiden that cost New Zealand ten runs.

40th over: Australia 148-5 (Marsh 51, Carey 38) Sears tightens things up and gets a bit of control back for Tim Southee. A maiden blocked out by Alex Carey.

39th over: Australia 148-5 (Marsh 51, Carey 38) Kuggeleijn spears one down the leg side – Blundell can only get a finger on it behind the stumps and it runs away for four. Shot! Carey stands tall and punches off the back foot for four more. New Zealand beginning to leak runs through Sears and Kuggeleijn. Crack! Marsh pulls a short ball for four more to move to fifty*. Thirteen runs off the over as well as a burned review as the Kiwis thought Carey had tickled an upper cut behind but it was his helmet grille creaking at the crucial moment. The target is reduced to 131 runs, there have been 47 runs scored in the last ten overs and crucially, nada/nowt/zilch/diddly squat in the wickets column.

*Penny for Rachin Ravindra’s thoughts right now. He shelled Marsh when he was on 28.

38th over: Australia 135-5 (Marsh 47, Carey 33) Sears does replace Henry. Blue skies abundant now in Christchurch. Beaten! Sears is full and draws Carey into the drive, very close to nicking off. Another good ball from Sears sees Carey get a meaty edge wide of the cordon and away for four. That’s the 50 partnership for Marsh and Carey. Runs coming steadily.

37th over: Australia 128-5 (Marsh 45, Carey 28) Scott Kuggeleijn into the attack. Maybe a change of ends for Ben Sears. A leg bye and a quick single to Carey. The partnership is officially into ‘worrisome’ for the Kiwis now.

36th over: Australia 126-5 (Marsh 45, Carey 27) Carey tucks for two into the leg side. “Negative Nigel that I am” writes Ben Bernards, “I had New Zealand to take three more wickets in good time (say, before the dastardly canary yellows reach 170) only for a combination of Cummins and Starc to blast Australia home with a partnership of 100-odd at a run a ball. As Rachin spilled Marsh earlier I adjusted my prediction to ‘Marsh scores 160 not out’ instead. Hold me.”

Hold me in your arms, may they keep me
Sing me a lullaby, ‘cause I’m sleepy

35th over: Australia 123-5 (Marsh 45, Carey 25) Sears starts them off again after a quick slurp of something luminous. He really reminds me of the young fella from Manchester by the Sea. Sad film. Exciting bowler. A loose ball is picked off the hip from Carey for four to fine leg. A couple more are collected down the ground. Australia ticking along at 3.5 runs an over, 156 more runs needed for them. Five wickets for New Zealand. All set for an arse nipper?

Close but no watermelon vape:

34th over: Australia 116-5 (Marsh 44, Carey 19) Carey survives and it is time for a drink. A breathless 45 minutes of play this morning. A drop, a wicket, a near chop on, a flurry of boundaries and an LBW overturned. Time for a drink.

REVIEW: NOT OUT! The ball was missing the leg stump by a whisker so the decision is reversed. Henry can’t believe it – he was sure he had his man there. Good review from Australia, they can’t afford to lose another before the lunch break.

Matt Henry has trapped Alex Carey in front and the finger has gone up! Carey has reviewed but does not look confident…

33rd over: Australia 112-5 (Marsh 44, Carey 15) Ben Sears replaces Matt Henry. The debutant bowled brilliantly last evening and has Marnus and Cam Green in his back pocket to show for it. Bounce! First ball from Sears climbs nastily and thuds into Carey’s glove as he tries to ride the steepling delivery. Carey gets off strike the next ball. Marsh is then beaten by a beauty that climbs and moves late. The next ball is cut away through the off side for three runs, good tussle this between bat and ball.

32nd over: Australia 107-5 (Marsh 41, Carey 14) Southee continues, sun burning off the clouds now in Christchurch. Eeeeesht! Marsh very nearly chops on to his stumps! How has that missed? Forcing away from his body, the inside edge hit his back pad and dribbles an inch wide of off stump. It’s not been a dull morning – much more watchable that the Oscars I reckon.

31st over: Australia 106-5 (Marsh 41, Carey 13) Carey nudges a single to bring Marsh on strike. Bosh. Marsh leans back and cuts away uppishly for four. The exact same shot that he slapped to Ravindra who shelled the chance a few overs ago, this time the ball is safely in the gap and away to the advertising hoardings in a flash.

30th over: Australia 101-5 (Marsh 37, Carey 12) Marsh drives down the ground but plinks it off the inner half of the bat. The ball goes straight back past Tim Southee and if the bowler had got a glance on it onto the stumps then Alex Carey was toast, he was so far out of his crease when the ball passed by. Three runs collected and the hundred up for Australia. 178 more runs still needed, one of these two batters is going to have to get a biggun.

29th over: Australia 97-5 (Marsh 34, Carey 11) Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey aren’t going to stodge this out. Both men like to play their shots and flash hard while they are at it. Case in point – Henry pitches one up and Carey flays away over the slips for four.

28th over: Australia 92-5 (Marsh 34, Carey 7) Shot! Carey pounces on a full ball and drives all along the carpet for four. He hit that hard, some nervous energy fizzing through the hands no doubt. Southee hangs the next few outside off stump but Carey isn’t interested in them. He pays them never-mind, go away. Two more runs collected off the final ball of the over as Carey glides past point.

27th over: Australia 86-5 (Marsh 34, Carey 1) Edge! Safe. Four. Marsh defends on the front foot to Henry and the ball takes the outside edge, it is always headed downwards however and flies wide of third slip and away to the rope. Every single run crucial. Marsh drives into cover for a single and Carey gets off the mark with a push down the ground. How’re your nerves?

26th over: Australia 80-5 (Marsh 28, Carey 0) What a start. Worth the wait eh? If you are a Kiwi fan that is… Alex Carey is the new batter for Australia, heaps of pressure on his shoulders. The wily Southee keeps him honest with three dot balls on a good length outside off.

WICKET! Head c Young b Southee 18 (Australia 80-5)

Rachin Ravindra has DROPPED Mitch Marsh! Straight at him at backward point and the youngster fumbles it into the turf.

25th over: Australia 78-4 (Marsh 28, Head 19) Matt Henry is going to start with the ball. He’s been excellent in both Test matches, can he get his side over the line today? Travis Head drops the ball into the leg side for the first run of the day. Henry has three slips and a gully in place. Mitch Marsh takes a step down the pitch and plays a back of a length ball square of the wicket for a scampered single. Watery sunshine now peeping through at the Hagley Oval. Lovely.

Righto, players emerging at the Hagley Oval. The Kiwis are in a huddle on the boundary edge, Marsh and Head are doing some final limbering up. Let’s have some play, shall we?

“I just wondered whether you have any thoughts as to which, if either team will be better pleased by the rain delay? asks Geoff Wignall.

I always think a wet ball is pretty ‘orrible to bowl with and doesn’t do as much in the air or off the pitch… but then again a soggy outfield means less value for your shots as a batter. I actually think neither side will be too bothered though, these guys are pros goddammit.

“Looking forward to seeing some South Australians rescuing the day here Jim” says Eamonn Maloney. “Brief panic at the mention of Mother’s Day, relief to find it remains 12 May for the participants of this Test and their supporting parties”

Arf. Sorry for causing antipodean panic! Saved Carl Jepson’s expat bacon though by the sounds of it:

“Morning James, thanks for the heads up on UK Mother’s day because living in Australia I sometimes miss the notice. Back in the will.

I’m imagining those last four words being said exactly like this:

Here are the revised playing times: (All in local time)

First Session 12pm-1.30pm (12.45pm drinks)

Second Session 2.10pm-4.40pm (3.25 drinks)

Third Session 5pm-7pm (6pm drinks)

You can even time your loo/brew breaks as per the above.

Weather Update – and it is good news!*

The rain has stopped and the clean up is underway. If the sky behaves from now on then we’ll have play in a little over 30 minutes.

*Unless you are a MASSIVE fan of interminable live-blogging?

Oh and here’s summink what I wrote about the incredible origin story of Yashasvi Jaiswal:

Cricket-y reading to keep you occupied:

Taha Hashim penned this lovely piece on Jimmy Anderson:

and Ali Martin has the latest on the England camp the morning after the day before:

Simon McMahon has seen an opportunity and gone for it:

“Hi Jim! Seeing as there’s no cricket (yet), maybe you can indulge me, and I’m sure a few others, by saying Happy Mother’s Day to mother’s everywhere, and in particular my own, the sainted Margaret, and of course not forgetting my wife (and mother of our children) Lisa. They both have no interest in cricket, but have family in New Zealand, so maybe somebody will let them know they’ve appeared on the OBO. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled. Go New Zealand!”

Job done. Someone give Margaret and Lisa a nudge? Welcome to the good books, Simon.

Yuck

“Evening/morning James”

Same to you Tom Porter!

“I’m 10 mins west of the ground and it’s still raining heavily (11am). I’m not complaining as after three great days at the ground I’m stuck in the office until 3pm, when I’ll head over, so I’m hoping the 6 wickets will fall after then!! As an Englishman resident in Christchurch, it’s lovely to see what a buzz the potential of a Black Caps win has brought to local cricket fans (30 years of hurt!) After the last three days, how can you not love Test cricket?!”

This is all working out perfectly for you isn’t it Tom? You lucky lad. Back to work you skiver!

Apparently this is the heaviest rain Christchurch has seen in months… BUT reports are that it should pass over by this afternoon at the very least.

It’s Brolly Time:

Weather watch: It is raining, the covers are on and we are going to have a delayed start.

Adam Buckby sends some local intel: “Hey Jim, it’s hammering it down, but meant to get better this afternoon. It’s been so dry in Christchurch this year that you can’t really moan (unless you’re having to stay awake in London watching nothing I guess) – they’ll be a result one way or another in the next 2 days. Let’s go the Blackcaps.”

No moaning from me, ain’t got nowhere else to be. Sleep? Pah!

Gah – spoke to soon! Any OBOers in Christchurch? Drop us a line and let us know how it’s looking?

Sunny days, where have you gone?

There’s enough blue sky to make a pair of sailor’s trousers as my ma would say (Happy Mother’s Day Kathy!*) Hopefully this means they’ll start on time.

Let’s hope it isn’t one of those days:

Preamble

James Wallace