AP, Wellington :
Adam Voges completed his second Test double century Sunday and was the last man out for 239 as Australia was dismissed for 562, with a 379-run lead over New Zealand, on the third day of the first cricket Test.
Voges was out, caught and bowled by off-spinner Mark Craig, shortly before lunch after batting for 504 minutes. It was more than 1,000 minutes – and 614 runs – since he was last dismissed in a Test match.
Voges’ innings, the third-highest by an Australian batsman in New Zealand, followed his unbeaten 269 and 106 in tests against the West Indies in December. When he was dismissed his average in his 14th test match since his debut in June at age 36 stood at 97.46.
Had he finished not out, Voges would have ended with 1,267 runs at an average of 115.
The timing of Australia’s dismissal meant that New Zealand had to negotiate a single over before lunch and they did so, going to the break at 1-0 and tired after five full sessions in the field.
Voges resumed Sunday at 176 not out and went on to his double century in 457 minutes, from 328 balls with 29 fours. It was another of the statistical oddities that littered his innings that when he hit a six from Doug Bracewell to go from 206 to 212, it was the first six he had hit in his last three innings.
His entire innings comprised 364 balls and included 30 fours and three sixes.
New Zealand was still seething that Voges had survived being bowled by Bracewell, while not offering a shot, when he was on only seven on the first day. England umpire Richard Illingworth incorrectly called a no ball.
Voges went on to add 232 more runs in partnerships of 168 for the fourth wicket with Usman Khawaja, 96 for the sixth wicket with Peter Nevill, 99 for the seventh wicket with Peter Siddle and in small but productive partnerships with Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and last man Jackson Bird.
All of those stands served to grind down New Zealand which was dismissed for 183 in barely two sessions on the opening day. Australia’s massive lead, achieved with almost three days remaining, leaves New Zealand in a desperate battle for survival in the first match of the two-test series.
Siddle made a valuable contribution Sunday and was unlucky to be out one run short of his half century and a run short of a century partnership with Voges.
The Australian wickets were shared by five New Zealand bowlers who took two wickets each, the best of whom was Tim Southee who finished with 2-87 from 31 overs. Voges’ wicket fell to Craig as a reward for diligence – he bowled 35.2 overs and finished with 2-153.
