NZ VS AUS - 2nd Test, Australia tour of New Zealand, 2024

So Carey and Cummins clutch it out in Christchurch. What a great Test match this was, makes it worth waking up at ungodly hours to bring all this live action to you. That's all for now, time to catch up on some sleep....This is Saurabh Shankar signing off on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy and Praveen Kumar.

Matt Henry | Player of the Series: Yeah, obviously, it's disappointing, but at the same time we showed a lot of fight. The way they played was to get the runs ticking over, we were always looking for wickets, the attitude we showed to try and crack open the game was unbelievable. It's always nice to be playing cricket at home (in Christchurch), there's a bit of bounce and seam movement available on this pitch. It's great to be part of one of New Zealand's best bowling attacks. Tim (Southee) is one of the best and it was great to share the new ball with him. It always feels nice to be contributing with the bat, we pride ourselves on chipping in with the bat.

Alex Carey | Player of the Match: Yeah, I'm thrilled. Was a great series, this game ebbed and flowed. Back against the wall last night, they came hard and put us under pressure. So nice to get home. Two quality bowlers in Tim (Southee) and Matt Henry, they were superb, the ball was nipping around, but Mitch took them on and took the pressure off me. His intent was amazing. Travis (Head) is one of those players who keeps the scoreboard moving, that was the message today (from the management), to keep playing the way we can and take any opportunity (to score) when we got, I think we did just. I was just happy to be at the non-striker's end and didn't want to face another ball (on his 98*). I have to thank the bowlers for that (on equalling Adam Gilchrist's record of 10 dismissals for a match), but it's a nice little stat

Pat Cummins: Pretty tense, everyone was nervous the last couple of hours. Amazing win. (On winning runs) Anyway possible to win, I had no idea he (Carey) was on 98. The toss helped, it was funny how quickly the match moved on Day 1. First innings leads are always key for this reason. We've been on the other side of Tests plenty of time, I just told the boys to keep the scoreboard moving, stay busy and put the pressure on the opposition. We've got an experienced side, the story of this series has been guys standing up in crunch moments. Love playing Test matches, best format of cricket and it pays off on days like this.

Tim Southee: Was a great Test. The partnership between Marsh and Carey broke the back of our team. There was a bit of excitement towards the end, but wasn't to be. This can happen when you're playing the number 1 side in the world. Dropped catches are a part of the game. Lots of postives from this series. Henry has grown from strength to strength, especially for a guy who has been in and out of the side early on. Couple of other blokes as well have performed well throughout the series.

However, this enticing game of Test cricket proved how much of the sport is played in the head. New Zealand bossed the second and third day of this Test to get themselves in a commanding position, but the moment they become favourites, they started to crumble. It is not the mountain that you need to conquer, it is your mind. Sometimes the nervousness of winning can be larger than the fear of failure. New Zealand haven't beaten Australia in a home Test since 1991, and the remnants of all those defeats came back to haunt them as Australia seized the important moments of this chase and successfully transferred the pressure back onto the hosts. Also, winning can be an addictive habit, just ask the Aussies. Like so many times in the past, they just somehow find a way. After all, you don't become World Champions in Tests and ODIs just by fluke. That's enough sermonzing for this game, now time for the presentations...

But your heart goes out to New Zealand, especially Matt Henry and Ben Sears. They’ve bowled their heart out, tried everything in their ammo, but in the end came up against World champs. Henry picked up 9 wickets in the Test and has a good shout to perhaps even win Man of the Series, but he’ll still end up on the losing end. Ben Sears had a roaring debut, bowled with pace and vigor, got his side back in the game with the wickets of Marsh and Starc, but in the end Carey and Cummins clutched their way to the finish line. Perhaps, the one thing that can be faulted about their performance could be their fielding. Mitchell dropped a couple of catches in the slips, and the complexion of the game could have been very different had Rachin Ravindra held on to the catch of Mitch Marsh early on today. There could be plenty of ifs and buts, but the bottom line is take nothing away from Australia, something about their Vegimite diet and avocado toasts make them clutch performers in the sport of cricket!! Another one of those glorious Aussie wins from the jaws of defeat

16:00 Local Time, 03:00 GMT, 08:30 IST: Jeez, how good is this Australian team? None of their top 5 batters, 4 of whom rank in the top 15 in Tests, crossed 20 runs but they have managed to chase down a target of 279. The target looked a million miles away when they were stuttering 34/4. But up stepped Mitch Marsh, who curbed his attacking instincts slightly but slashed hard at it every time the New Zealand bowlers offered width. And then up stepped Alex Carey. Out of all the batters in this esteemed Aussie line-up, he'd be the one who many would consider the welterweight. But Carey proved today that he too can pack a punch, and in fact deliver the knockout blow. Things got a bit nervy after the wicket of Marsh, but the calming persona of Cummins helped get Australia over the line in Christchurch.

Ben Sears to Cummins, FOUR, PAT CUMMINS FOR PRIME MINISTER!! Is there anything the Australian captain can’t do? Cricket seems too easy for him, he’s conquered it all. Maybe try your hand at proving string theory, Pat? Or send him over to the UN, maybe he can finally broker world peace!! Once again, Pat Cummins clutching his way to a famous Test win!! On a length and outside off, Cummins gets closer and punches it away square of the wicket for a boundary. Carey left stranded on 98*, but he won't be too bothered about that. The Aussies walk off to beaming smiles as the visiting fans clap them off. New Zealand tried, they really tried. They huffed, they puffed but they couldn't blow the house down. Australia win by 3 wickets and claim the series 2-0

Ben Sears to Cummins, no run, length ball outside off, Cummins tries to cut and gets an underedge onto the ground and to the keeper

Ben Sears to Cummins, no run, hard length delivery just outside off, Cummins makes some room and tries to hit it into the ground over the infield. Stopped by short cover. The batters tried to sneak a single but to not avail

Ben Sears to Cummins, no run, banged in short onto off stump, Cummins blocks it out into the pitch

Ben Sears to Carey, 1 run, shoots up viciously from a length and agling in, rams onto the top of the bat handle and deflects towards backward square as Carey took his eye off it in defence. Single taken

Ben Sears to Carey, FOUR, short of length, Carey takes it on with the pull and hoists it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Just three needed now, and Carey needs 3 more for a century too

Just 7 runs away now, the shoulders have dropped and Australia are coasting towards victory. Can Carey get to a hundred for himself?

Matt Henry to Cummins, FOUR, beautifully played, overpitched and at the stumps - Cummins leans forward, presents the full face of the bat and drives it straight of mid-on for a boundary

Matt Henry to Cummins, no run, short of a good length and into the body, Cummins hops across and tucks it to square leg

Southee has a chat with his bowler, but things do look gloomy for the hosts - a slip, gully and a short extra-cover in place

Matt Henry to Cummins, no run, on a good length and just outside off, defended to the off-side

Matt Henry to Carey, 1 run, full and at the stumps, Carey plays with a straight bat and drives it back at the bowler - Henry sticks his boot out and deflects it towards mid-wicket, Carey calls for a quick single and Cummins makes his ground with a big dive