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Australia reclaim number one ranking with resounding win

by Sandeep Shivam Wednesday 24 February 2016

Steven Smith scored 46-ball 53 for Australia in the chase.

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia 505 & 201-3 (Burns 65) beat
New Zealand 370 & 335 by seven wickets
Second Test, Christchurch, day five
Scorecard

Joe Burns and Steven Smith scored fifties on the final day to complete a seven-wicket victory for Australia as they chased down 201 in the fourth innings against New Zealand in the second Test in Christchurch with ease and completed a 2-0 series whitewash.

The series victory has also taken Australia to the pole position of the International Cricket Council Test rankings displacing India.

The day began with high emotions as Brendon McCullum walked on to the field for one final time in international cricket. Australia resumed day five at 70 for one, still needing 131 more runs to complete the win.

Usman Khawaja (45) had a nervous moment as he edged one between the keeper and the first slip in the second over of the day from Trent Boult (1-60).

Neil Wagner (1-60) was creating discomfort for the Australian batsmen with a barrage of short pitch deliveries but the pair brought the 50-run stand in the 32nd over, also bringing the 100 for Australia.

Tim Southee (1-30) finally managed to get a wicket in the game after having Khawaja caught at first slip by McCullum. Australia were 113 for two at that stage.

Smith (53 not out) looked in no mood to waste time as he hit the first six of the innings in the 40th over off Wagner. On the other end, Burns (65) brought up another fifty off 138 deliveries. With five boundaries in as many overs, the pair brought up the fifty run stand.

Burns plundered back-to-back boundaries off Trent Boult (1-60) in the 48th over, but was castled by him in the same over ending a hard fought knock.

With the session extended by 15 minutes, Australia reached 185 for three heading into lunch needing 16 more runs to win the game.

Second over into the post lunch session, Smith reached his fifty off 41 deliveries and it took Australia only two more overs after that to reach the target of 201 with seven wickets in hand.

The win completed a 2-0 series whitewash for Australia over New Zealand and also helped them reclaim the number one position in ICC Test Rankings.

Burns was declared the man of the match for his knocks of 170 and 65 in the game.