Smith celebrates after scoring his 12th Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
After New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor scored a career-best 290, Australia captain Steven Smith struck an unbeaten 131 and Adam Voges made 101 not out to put the Baggy Greens in a solid position at the end of the fourth day of the second Test in Perth.
Starting out the day on 510/6, New Zealand, with the help of Taylor put together small, but useful, partnerships as they chipped away at the mammoth 559/9 Australia had declared on in their first innings.
Taylor soon surpassed his 250 and was nearing his maiden triple century before tragedy struck and he was caught by Jonny Wells, who was the substitute fielder, at deep square leg off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.
Taylor, who broke England batsman Tip Foster’s 111-year-old record of having the highest score ever made by a visiting batsman in Australia, scored a magnificent 290, which came off 374 balls and included 43 boundaries.
Taylor made the highest score by a visiting batsman in Australia
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
During his knock, Taylor also became the second-fastest New Zealand player and fifth overall from the country to score 5,000 Test runs.
With Taylor being the last wicket to fall, New Zealand were bowled out for 624, which gave them a 65-run lead.
Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Lyon snapped up three and Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Marsh chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Trailing by 65 runs, Australia lost Joe Burns and David Warner early on before Smith and Voges amassed an unbeaten 212-run partnership, during which Smith brought up his 12th Test century and Voges his second, before stumps was called.
Smith finished on 131 off 170 balls, which included 17 boundaries, while Voges remained undefeated on 101 off 180 deliveries, which included 15 boundaries.
Voges raises his bat after bringing up his second Test hundred
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Tim Southee and Trent Boult claimed one wicket each.
Australia ended day four on 258/2 and will continue batting tomorrow at 10:30 local time or 02:30 GMT.