Johnson bowls Australia to victory in Hamilton Test

HAMILTON - Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson on Wednesday helped Australia to a two-nil series sweep over New Zealand.

Johnson picked up 6-73 from 20.1 overs in New Zealand’s second innings as the Kiwis, chasing a world-record 479 runs to win in the Hamilton Test, were bowled out for 302 at lunch on day five.

Australia won by 176 runs and Johnson claimed match figures of 10-132, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

For New Zealand, wicket-keeper batsman Brendon McCullum scored 51, hitting nine fours and one six, before Doug Bollinger claimed his wicket caught at gully in the first over with the second new ball.

Bollinger (2-87) struck again when Jeetan Patel (3) was caught at third slip.

Martin Guptill (58) also hit a half-century, falling to a neat catch from Ricky Ponting at second slip as Johnson took his fourth wicket of the innings at 8-273.

Johnson ended the match by removing Brent Arnel for a duck and Tim Southee for an entertaining 45 from 25 balls.

Johnson, 28, claimed the record of left-arm bowler to reach the 150-wicket milestone in the least amount of Tests (34) with his three wickets during yesterday’s fourth day of play.

Johnson was later named man of the match.

“I’ve enjoyed the tour, it has been great. It has been a great summer for the boys. It’s always great to be able to contribute. The batters set the game up for us and we had to work hard as a bowling group,” Johnson was quoted, as saying.

Johnson said he was looking forward to a short break before heading to the West Indies for the Twenty20 World Cup which starts on April 30. (ANI)