1st test: Australians 337-6 at lunch, day 2 vs New Zealand

By IHITHISHAM KAMARDEEN 13 December 2019, 12:00AM

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Marnus Labuschagne was finally dismissed for 143 before Australia reached lunch at 337-6 on day two of the series-opening day-night test against New Zealand.

Skipper Tim Paine (15) and Pat Cummins (5) were unbeaten at the first interval Friday as New Zealand toiled in temperatures topping 40 Celsius (104 F) for the second day in a row.

Labuschagne’s six-hour innings finally ended when he was bowled behind his legs by left-arm fast bowler Neil Wagner (3-77), narrowly missing his third consecutive test 150. The Australian No. 3 hit a six and 18 boundaries in his 240-ball vigil as he anchored the Australian innings against a disciplined New Zealand attack.

Labuschagne and Travis Head (56) resumed with Australia at 248-4 and scored over a run-a-minute before Wagner made the vital breakthrough.

Head, who was aggressive in scoring his seventh test half century, played at a wide ball from Tim Southee (2-84) and drove a simple catch to Mitchell Santner in the covers. Head hit 10 fours off 97 balls and helped Labuschagne add 76 runs for the fifth wicket in quick time.

New Zealand took the field without fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who has been ruled out of the test with a strained calf muscle in his right leg. Ferguson hasn’t been on the field since he limped off on the first afternoon.

Both teams are coming off series wins, with Australia sweeping Pakistan 2-0 and No. 2-ranked New Zealand accounting for England.

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More AP cricket: https://apnews.com/Cricket and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By IHITHISHAM KAMARDEEN 13 December 2019, 12:00AM

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