Australia win historic 'pink ball' Test in tense finish

Australia on Sunday claimed a thrilling three-wicket victory over New Zealand inside three days at the Adelaide Oval in the first-ever day-night Test match.

Shaun Marsh anchored Australia to the cusp of victory before losing his wicket on 49, and the battling Kiwis set up a tense finish under the floodlights by also dismissing Peter Nevill to leave the home side seven wickets down.

Much to the crowd's relief Peter Siddle, whose ailing grandmother passed away overnight, cracked the winning runs with a hobbling Mitchell Starc as his batting partner, to clinch a 2-0 series victory over the gallant Black Caps.

Australia won the first Brisbane Test by 208 runs and the second Perth Test was drawn.

The match was redemption for Marsh, who has struggled to hold down a place in the Australian team with inconsistent batting performances over his four years at Test level.

"It was fantastic for Shaun to get an opportunity," said skipper Steve Smith. "He's been batting extremely well and the way he played under pressure with his brother to put a partnership together was really crucial for us at that stage."

The pink ball developed for day-night Tests triumphed over the bat in a fast-paced Test which attracted a total attendance of 123,736. The aim of the experiment is to bring the crowds back to the long form of the game.

"The bowlers have dominated this game and it's great for cricket,"  Smith said.

It was the first three-day Test match at the Adelaide Oval in 64 years - since the West Indies beat Australia by six wickets.

"I thought it was an outstanding Test match. It was closely fought. We'd dearly have loved an extra few runs today, but it wasn't to be," said Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum.

"It's pretty hard to separate the two teams over the last two Test matches."

Shaun Marsh had been dropped during the Ashes series in England in August and only came into the Adelaide Test as a replacement for injured number three Usman Khawaja.

He lost his younger brother Mitch during the final session, caught holing out to spinner Mitchell Santner for 28 with 26 runs still needed for victory.

Shaun Marsh lost his own wicket when he dabbled at Trent Boult and was snapped up by Ross Taylor at first slip.

Adam Voges, who had earlier shared a valuable 49-run fourth-wicket stand with Marsh, was out early in the final session - snapped up at second slip by Tim Southee for 28 off Boult, who finished with five for 60.

After being set 187 to win, the hosts were rocked by the double loss of key batsmen Smith and David Warner in the space of seven balls.

Smith pulled Doug Bracewell high into the air towards Santner on the leg-side. But the Kiwi debutant put down the skied chance to give the Australian skipper a massive letoff on two.

However Warner was out 12 balls later, caught at second slip by Southee off Bracewell for 35 in a big scalp for the Black Caps.

And the Kiwis got another major fillip when Smith was out leg before wicket to Boult seven balls later.

Smith reviewed the decision and the ball was tracked hitting him high on his pad. But the Hawk Eye technology had it just flicking the leg bail and that was enough to back up umpire Richard Illingworth's on-field decision.

Smith left the field shaking his head after scoring just 14 and leaving his team on a precarious 66 for three, still 121 runs away from victory.

Smith's departure signalled the arrival of Shaun Marsh at a crucial stage in the Australian innings and with victory not assured.

New Zealand earlier lost their last five wickets in the day's first session to be bowled out for 208, a lead of 186.

Man-of-the-match paceman Josh Hazlewood led the Australian attack in the absence of the injured Mitchell Starc, taking six for 70 off 24.5 overs.

The Kiwis, who had resumed on 116 for five, lost their last five wickets for 92. Santner top-scored with an impressive 45 off 88 balls.

Australia were 74 runs from victory in the day-night third Test with seven wickets left at the dinner break on the third day against New Zealand  at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

At the interval heading into the make-or-break final session under lights, the home side were 113 for three with Adam Voges on 27 and Shaun Marsh not out 24.

New Zealand were all out for 208 to leave the Australians 187 runs to win and claim the three-match series 2-0.

Paceman Josh Hazlewood led the Australian attack in the absence of injured Mitchell Starc, taking six for 70 off 24.5 overs.

Victory would give Australia a 2-0 win in the three-match series with the Kiwis bidding to remain unbeaten in their last eight Test series since 2013 if they can bowl out the Australians with the pink ball.

Whichever way it goes, the Adelaide Oval is poised for its first three-day Test match in 64 years since the West Indies beat Australia by six wickets.

The Kiwis, who resumed at 116 for five, lost their last five wickets for 92 runs with debutant Mitchell Santner top-scoring with an impressive 45 off 88 balls.

B.J. Watling fell on the ninth ball of the day on his overnight score of seven.

Hazlewood got an edge which flew to second slip and skipper Steve Smith, who dropped him on two the previous evening off the same bowler.

Hazlewood claimed his fifth wicket of the innings with the caught behind dismissal of Mark Craig for 15.

Santner's impressive knock came to an end on a rush of blood after jumping down the wicket to crash spinner Nathan Lyon for six.

Two balls later Lyon lured Santner to repeat the shot and he was smartly stumped by wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

Tim Southee then hit two fours and went after Mitch Marsh to be well caught by Lyon on the backward square boundary rope for 16.

Trent Boult went for a wild swing and was bowled by Hazlewood for five to end the innings with Doug Bracewell remaining unbeaten on 27.

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