VOGES GOES MAJESTIC

 

Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.

Venue- Basin Reserve, Wellington [February 12-16, 2016].

In the summer of 2016, the Australian cricket team toured New Zealand to play 3 ODIs and 2 tests. The Kiwis won the ODI Series 2-1, and the action shifted to red ball cricket. Moreover, this series was Captain Baz's last series as a New Zealand cricketer. As a result, there were emotions all around. Australian Captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to field first on a pitch which looked good for pace bowling. And boy! It turned out to be a wonderful decision. 

Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle came all guns blazing as they demolished the hosts for just 183 in their first innings. Hazlewood picked 4 and Siddle picked 3 as Kiwis struggled to bat for 50 overs. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that no Kiwi batsman managed to get past the 50-run mark, which shows disciplined Aussie bowling.

In response, the Kiwis got off to an incredible start with the ball as they dismissed both the openers cheaply. The Australian scorecard read 5/2 when Captain Smith joined Usman Khawaja in the middle. The game was on a knife-edge. One more wicket and the Kiwis would have sensed a comeback. However, Smudge and Khawaja stitched a partnership of 126 runs and brought the visitors back into the game. Eventually Captain Smith was dismissed for 71 as Voges joined Khawaja in the centre. The game was still very much balanced. However, what followed next was something truly unbelievable. Khawaja and Voges simply broke the spine of the Kiwi bowling line-up as the duo piled up mounds of runs. Khawaja scored a gritty 140 runs. But it was Voges who stole the show. Adam Voges on that day was phenomenal. He batted for around 504 minutes and scored a majestic 239. In an innings which lasted 364 deliveries, he hit 30 boundaries and 3 sixes. The hosts looked helpless as Voges continued his attack with the bat. Due to his efforts, the Aussies ended up scoring 562 in their first innings. 

It was now almost certain that the Kiwis are out of the game, and this is what happened. The hosts lost by an inning and 52 runs, as they were bowled out for 327 in their second innings. The duo of Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Marsh just blew the Kiwi batting. Though there was some resistance in between, it was not at all sufficient to save the test. 

Adam Voges was awarded the Man of the Match Award as the Aussies took a 1-0 lead in the 2-match series.

To watch the Highlights, Click Here.