PERTH, Nov 17: Retiring Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson claimed two final wickets as the second Test against New Zealand ended in a draw at the WACA Ground here today.
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 had little appetite for the chase when they resumed in a match dominated by the bat on a lifeless pitch.
When stumps were drawn 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 runs at the Gabba, the result means Australia have retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
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 he 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.
SCORECARD
Australia 1st innings: 559-9 decl
New Zealand 1st innings: 624
Australia 2nd innings: J Burns c Taylor b Southee 0, D Warner c Latham b Boult 24, S Smith c Watling b Boult 138, A Voges lbw Southee 119, M Marsh lbw Bracewell 1, P Nevill c Watling b Southee 35, M Johnson c Watling b Southee 29, M Starc not out 28, J Hazlewood not out 2. Extras: (b4, lb3, w1, nb1) 9. Total: (7 wickets declared, 103 overs) 385. Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-46, 3-270, 4-277, 5-294, 6-355, 7-366. Bowling: Southee 25-4-97-4, Boult 19-2-77-2, Bracewell 20-5-62-1, Henry 20-7-53-0 (1w), Craig 18-1-81-0 , Williamson 1-0-8-0.
New Zealand 2nd innings: T Latham c Hazlewood b Johnson 15, M Guptill c Burns b Johnson 17, K Williamson not out 32, R Taylor not out 36. Extras: (b4) 4. Total: (2 wickets, 28 overs) 104. Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-44. Bowling: Starc 6-1-33-0, Hazlewood 6-3-3-0, Johnson 6-2-20-2, Lyon 7-0-35-0, Marsh 3-0-9-0. � AFP
