Cricket: NZ hold slim lead

New Zealand players celebrate taking the wicket of Mitchell Marsh. Photo: Reuters
New Zealand players celebrate taking the wicket of Mitchell Marsh. Photo: Reuters

New Zealand have a battle on their hands to avoid defeat at stumps on the second day of cricket's historic day-night test at Adelaide Oval tonight.

They will start the third day at 116 for five in their second innings, holding a slim overall lead of only 94 over Australia.

If they can capitalize on the better batting conditions in the daytime in the first session tomorrow they might give their bowlers a chance in a lowscoring match.

Things looked far more promising earlier in the day, when they had Australia 116 for eight at the first interval, trailing by 86.

However an umpiring blunder two overs after the restart by third official Nigel Llong, who erroneously allowed tailender Nathan Lyon a reprieve on 0 for a catch at second slip off spin bowler Mitchell Santner, changed the complexion of the game.

Lyon went on to score 34 and share a 74-run stand with top scorer Peter Nevill (66). When Lyon was eventually out, New Zealand's advantage had been eaten away to just 12.

Lusty blows by injured fast bowler Mitchell Starc pushed Australia to 224 and their seamers got to work impressively in the night air in the final session.

Josh Hazlewood whisked out openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham in quick order; medium pacer Mitchell Marsh removed the key batsman Kane Williamson for nine, then captain Brendon McCullum for 20, before Hazlewood finished off a strong night's work by getting Ross Taylor plumb lbw for 32.

Hazlewood had taken three for 32 and Marsh two for 44.

A crowd of 42,373 were in the ground today, making a two-day total of 89,700.

Australia lead the three-match series 1-0.

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