Paine hails special Aussies after unforgettable series

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Paine hails special Aussies after unforgettable series
Australia's Nathan Lyon (left) poses for a selfie with a fan at the Sydney Cricket Ground. (AFP)

Sydney - Australia captain Tim Paine said this was a special team

By Reuters

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Published: Mon 6 Jan 2020, 10:27 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Jan 2020, 12:31 AM

Spinner Nathan Lyon took 10 wickets for the match as Australia underlined their absolute dominance of New Zealand with a crushing 279-run victory in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday to sweep the series 3-0.
The hosts were utterly ruthless with bat and ball throughout the series and dismissed New Zealand for 136 having declared on 217 for two after lunch to hand the Black Caps an unlikely victory target of 416.
New Zealand had arrived with some confidence they could repeat the singular feat of the triumphant 1985-86 tourists from across the Tasman Sea but will return well beaten after injury and illness ravaged the squad.
With captain Kane Williamson and batsman Henry Nicholls missing because of a flu bug, New Zealand had no answer to the fearsome pace of Australia's quicks and the guile of Lyon's spin.
Lyon, aided by paceman Mitchell Starc's 3-25, cleaned up the tail on a deteriorating pitch to finish with 5-50 to add to his 5-68 in the first innings.
After New Zealand had slumped to 22-4, Colin de Grandhomme scored a gritty 52 and BJ Watling 19 off 108 balls and at one stage it looked like a fifth day might be needed for the first time in the series.
But with Matt Henry unable to bat because of a broken thumb sustained earlier in the match Lyon ended the resistance under the SCG lights when he had Watling caught by Pat Cummins.
"It's a great summer for the Australian Test side and it's very special to be part of it, to win tests at home and be very clinical in all wins, very impressive," off-spinner Lyon said.
"To take 10 on my home deck in front of friends and family is pretty special but every chance you get to put the Baggy Green on is for me a dream come true."
Earlier, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne had produced more of the prolific batting that has helped carry Australia to five thumping victories in five Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand in their home summer.
Warner scored his 24th Test century with an exhibition of batting as Labuschagne, who had joined Warner after Joe Burns was caught and bowled by Todd Astle for 40, passed the half-century mark for the seventh time in Australia's five home Tests this year.
Australia captain Tim Paine said this was a special team.
"I'm very lucky no doubt to be captaining this group, it's a special team," said Paine. "Batting has become very consistent with Marnus leading this year and Steve (Smith) and David back ... it's pretty simple leading this side at times."
Labuschagne was handed a rare penalty by umpire Aleem Dar for running on the wicket but it never looked like the extra five runs being added to New Zealand's first innings score of 251 would make a difference to the outcome. 
 


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