New Zealand stun Australia by seven runs

Hobart, Australia: New Zealand produced a stunning seven-run victory to claim its first test win in Australia since 1985, with Doug Bracewell triggering a batting collapse and taking the final wicket on Monday to square the two-test series. The 21-year-old paceman finished with 6-40 from 16.4 overs as Australia was dismissed for 233 chasing 241 to win, losing its last eight wickets for 74 runs. “I’m just ecstatic and really proud,” New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor said. The Australians were coasting at 159-2 on day four before Bracewell removed ex-skipper Ricky Ponting (16), then Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey for ducks in quick succession, sparking a collapse which saw the home team slump to 199-9. Opener David Warner, who carried his bat with an unbeaten 123, combined with Nathan Lyon (9) for a 10th wicket stand that almost salvaged victory for the hosts but the No. 11 — having survived two reviews for lbw — was bowled by Bracewell to end the game. [caption id=“attachment_153750” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“New Zealand quick Doug Bracewell, centre, is congratulated by his teammates after dismissing Australian captain Michael Clarke. AP”]  [/caption] Warner’s impressive performance was overshadowed by another dismal performance by Australia’s top order that will almost certainly cost opener Phil Hughes his spot and raises even more questions over the test futures of veterans Ponting and Hussey. It was a phenomenal comeback for New Zealand to square the series at 1-1 after losing the opener at Brisbane last week by nine wickets. Bracewell took the three key middle-order wickets in two overs just before lunch and then another two in one over at the start of the last session as Australia lost four wickets in 10 balls. Australia went to lunch at 173-5 with Warner and Brad Haddin as the last pair of established batsmen. Tim Southee sparked a slide with two wickets in the 55th over to dismiss Haddin (15) and Peter Siddle (2), both edging into the slips cordon, as Australia slumped to 194-7. When Bracewell struck twice in the next over to dismiss James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc, Australia’s first test loss ever at Bellerive Oval appeared certain. Big-hitting Warner and Lyon whittled the target from 42 runs to single figures in a dogged stand that displayed Warner’s maturity, warranting his selection. The Australians resumed on the fourth day at 72 without loss and didn’t add a run before Hughes (20) was dismissed by Chris Martin for the fourth time this series — edging to Martin Guptill at second slip for the second time in the match. Hughes was under intense pressure to hold his spot as critics targeted deficiencies in his technique outside off stump that have resulted in him being caught behind the wicket in two-thirds of his innings. While Hughes has struggled, Warner appears to have secured his spot for the four-test series against India starting Dec. 26. He gave only one half-chance, when he edged through slip to raise his maiden test half century. Warner, who made his test debut last week at the Gabba and has a reputation for being a big-hitting limited-overs specialist, scored 47 from 50 balls on Sunday but took 15 further deliveries to reach 50. He curbed his attacking instinct as his innings progressed, with his 123 coming off 170 balls and containing 14 boundaries. Warner shared a 50-run second-wicket partnership with Usman Khawaja (23) — caught at slip off Trent Boult — and then put on 37 for the third wicket with Ponting until Bracewell came back into the attack and triggered a middle-order collapse. The 36-year-old Ponting got off the mark with a boundary in what will be his last test innings in his home state and didn’t appear to be troubled by the bowling until he miscued a good-length ball from Bracewell and popped an easy catch to Tim Southee at extra cover to make the total 159-3. It extended Ponting’s drought to 31 innings since his last test century — a 209 against Pakistan here in January 2010. Skipper Clarke tried to drive at an away singer and edged to Taylor at slip and then Hussey was trapped lbw on the next ball after Taylor asked for a review of umpire Asad Rauf’s not out decision. The TV umpire decided the ball pitched on line and would have hit leg stump and overturned the call. Haddin survived the hat-trick ball but the three quick strikes gave New Zealand the upper hand with Australia having a longer than usual lower order. AP