Lee helps Australia to 2-0 series win against NZ
Brett Lee claimed 9 wickets in the second Test against New Zealand to help Australia defeat their Trans-Tasman rivals by an innings and 62 runs. Australia thus completed its two-Test home series against the visiting Kiwis with a 2-0 series victory.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, New Zealand was reduced to 270 by Australia in the first innings. Lee was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4-66. For the Kiwis, opener Aaron Redmond top-scored with 83 but none of his compatriots managed to notch up a half-century or more.
Australian bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz scalped two wickets a piece.
The hosts replied with a commanding 535 with the help of two centuries and two half-centuries. Ricky Ponting (79) and Michael Hussey (70) scored half-centuries while Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin, who were involved in a 181-run partnership, were the centurions.
Clarke scored 110 while Haddin registered his maiden Test ton with a sparkling 169.
All the Kiwi bowlers were taken for runs. Chris Martin, Daniel Vettori and Aaron Redmond picked up 2 wickets each while Iain O’Brien picked up 3-111.
Trailing by 265 runs, New Zealand started off cautiously in the second innings but kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Lee continued his good form with the ball dismissing the top four Kiwi batsmen for just 63 runs. The Kiwi middle-order failed to fire and some good bowling spells by Johnson further reduced them to 76-5.
Nathan Hauritz then picked up Daniel Vettori (13) and Tim Southee (11) to end the Kiwi resistance. The last two New Zealand batsmen were dismissed for naught as Brendon McCullum, who top scored with an unbeaten 84, was left stranded at the crease after New Zealand were bowled out for 203 in the second innings, thus succumbing to a loss by an innings and 62 runs to the Aussies.
Lee picked up his tenth five-for in Test cricket in the second innings with figures of 5 for 105.
Haddin was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his maiden Test ton and highest score in Test cricket whereas Clarke was declared the ‘Player of the Series’ for his scores of 98, 9 and 110 in the two Tests.