Australia took control of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Sydney by amassing a score of 454 in the first innings. Marnus Labuschagne hit his maiden double Test century as the New Zealand bowlers were made to toil on the second day of the Sydney Test. However, it didn’t all go Australia’s way with James Pattinson‘s dismissal a testament to that. As he has done throughout the series, Neil Wagner dug one in short with Pattinson trying to take cover but the ball didn’t bounce as much and the Australian cricketer got into a bit of tangle. The ball struck Pattinson on the shoulder then bounced off his glove and onto the back of his bat before disturbing the stumps.
Here is the one of the strangest dismissals you will ever see:
You've got to be kidding! James Pattinson can't believe his luck! 😦@bet365_aus | #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/hSJIeCWdd9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2020
In reply to Australia’s 454 all out, New Zealand ended Day 2 on 63 for no loss, trailing at stumps by 391 runs. Tom Latham (26 not out) and Tom Blundell (34 not out) were the two unbeaten batsmen for the visitors.
The day, however, belonged to Marnus Labuschagne. The 25-year-old reached his highest Test score of 215 as the Australians were dismissed just before tea on the second day. The right-hander was made to sweat on 199 for 20 minutes before he thick-edged Colin de Grandhomme through the vacant slips to the ropes to bring up his double ton.
