Johnson takes final 2 wickets in drawn Test

Retiring Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson claimed the last two wickets as the second Test against New Zealand ended in a draw at the WACA Ground in Perth on Tuesday.

The home side declared at 385 for seven after lunch, leaving the Kiwis needing an unlikely 321 to win from 48 overs to level the series, at almost seven runs per over.

A shower delayed play for about an hour and the Kiwis showed little appetite for the chase when they resumed in a match dominated by the bat on a lifeless pitch.

When stumps was called early with 20 overs left, the Kiwis were 104 for two, with Ross Taylor on 36 and Kane Williamson on 32.

Having won the first Test by 208 run at the Gabba, the result means Australia have retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
Australian captain Steve Smith said he would have liked to set a more attacking target for the Kiwis, but their good bowling on the final morning had put paid to that ambition.

"It would have been nice to have set about 360 off 65-70 overs," he said.

"I thought they bowled really well again this morning so it was tough to get that far ahead in the game.

"The wicket was still really good and I didn't want to give them too much of a sniff."

Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum said the target was a "bridge too far" for his side.

"After Kane and Ross’s innings it would have felt pretty hollow to come out with at least a draw in this match," he said.

"The wicket was good, but there was still an element of vulnerability with those cracks especially if our lower order was exposed."
McCullum took great heart from the way his side rebounded after a horrific first day.

Johnson, who announced his retirement from international cricket before the day's play, provided something to cheer about for the sparse final day crowd of just over 3,000 when he claimed the wickets of both Kiwi openers.

He had Tom Latham caught on the fine leg boundary for 15, Josh Hazlewood sliding in to take a fine catch.

Johnson, 34, then surprised Martin Guptill (17) with a rising delivery and he fended a catch to Joe Burns at short leg.

Given a guard of honour by the Kiwis when came out to bat earlier in the day, the left-armer finished with 2-20 from six overs, a vastly improved return on his 1-157 in the first innings.

The two scalps saw Johnson finish his 73-Test career with 313 wickets at just over 28 apiece, the fourth best haul for an Australian bowler.

His best haul was 8-61 against South Africa at the WACA Ground in 2008. Johnson made one century with the bat and also played 153 one-day internationals for 239 wickets.

A draw had looked the most likely result when Australia resumed the day's play with centurions Steve Smith and Adam Voges at the crease.
But the Kiwis removed both before lunch to briefly revive their hopes of a remarkable comeback win.

Smith was caught behind by BJ Watling from the bowling of Trent Boult (2-77) for 138. The form woes of Mitchell Marsh then continued when he made just one, trapped lbw by Doug Bracewell.

Australia had lost three wickets for just 24 runs when Voges was adjudged lbw for 119 from the bowling of Tim Southee (4-97).

Peter Nevill and Johnson set about steadying the ship, adding 61 in quick time and setting the scene for the declaration.

Johnson was honoured by the New Zealanders when he came out to bat, shaking hands with Kiwi Brendon McCullum on his way to the crease.

He made a breezy 29 before he was caught behind from the bowling of Southee.
Source: AFP