Australia defeated their neighbors New Zealand by 247 runs on day four of the second Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and took an impressive 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
New Zealand’s opener Tom Blundell did show the fight, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Kiwis from the loss as the Aussies wrapped up the Blackcaps on 240-9.
Australia, on the other hand, are now one win away to rewrite history. If they win at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in their next game, it would be the first time since 2013-14 Ashes that the Aussies will end the Test summer without a loss or a draw.
Travis Head, for his incredible ton, was gratified with the ‘Player of the Match’ award. Head scored 114 runs in the first innings.
Twitter was also lit up after the match.
Here are the best tweets:
Well done to @CricketAus team on another dominate performance!! Bring on the Sydney Test match now!!!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) December 29, 2019
Test over! Well played @CricketAus, victorious by 247 runs 👏🏽 SHOUTOUT to Tom Blundell for a sensational 121 #AUSvNZ #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/kLmTKqFqd8
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 29, 2019
Great performance by Australia’s men’s team and a fantastic spectacle at the MCG test thanks to the Aust and NZ fans who attended. Aust now in second place in the World Test Championship. Looking forward to the @scg test! @CricketAus @BLACKCAPS @ICC #WorldTestChampionship pic.twitter.com/xb9DtHJxd2
— Kevin Roberts (@KevRobertsCA) December 29, 2019
A fine century by Tom Blundell couldn't prevent our Australian men’s team from securing victory by 247 runs in the Boxing Day Test.
Congrats to our Aussies and thank you to the huge number of people who attended the @MCG throughout the Test. See you in Sydney! 🇦🇺️👏#AUSvNZL pic.twitter.com/8q6Sl6w0j6
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 29, 2019
Despite the result it would be a travesty if Melbourne did not host New Zealand for a Boxing Day Test for another 32 years. #AusvNZ
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) December 29, 2019
Superb test century Tom Blundell, very fine innings. 💯 #AUSvNZ
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) December 29, 2019
Tom Blundell 👏👏👏👏
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) December 29, 2019
Pat Cummins ends the year with 99 wickets across the three international formats:
Tests – 59 wkts at ave 20.13
ODIs – 31 wkts at ave 21.61
T20Is – 9 wkts at ave 19.11What a year he has had.
Strong contender for Cricketer of the Year 2019. #AusvNZ
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 29, 2019
TOM BLUNDELL:
Maiden Test as Keeper: 107* vs WI 2017
Maiden Test as Opener: 15 & 121 vs AUS 2019Only the 2nd player to score a Century in maiden Test as keeper & maiden Test as an opener.
[Brendon Kuruppu scored 201* on Test debut while playing as keeper & as opener] #AUSvNZ
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) December 29, 2019
Player of the Match is Travis Head, for his wonderful first-innings 114.#AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/ylmJjiSX5S
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2019