A controversial umpiring decision ended Brendon McCullum's valiant innings Monday, killing off New Zealand's chances in the first test and accelerating Australia's rush to a 208-run victory.
McCullum represented the major obstacle to Australia's victory push after New Zealand resumed at 142-3, needing 362 to win or to bat through 98 overs for a draw.
The New Zealand skipper was in good touch and in a defiant mood, stroking 10 fours and two sixes in a run-a-ball 80 before he was given out by umpire Nigel Llong, caught at slip off Mitchell Marsh's bowling, to a ball that lobbed off his pad and which he didn't appear to nick.
He couldn't review the decision because New Zealand had been unsuccessful on two prior referrals to the TV umpire.
"No, that's the game," McCullum said when asked if he was angered by the decision. "Both Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth are two of the best umpires in world cricket. They're outstanding umpires who are allowed to make the occasional mistake.
"You've got to cop it sweet. We had two reviews for decisions which could have gone either way. That's certainly not the winning and losing of the game."
McCullum's dismissal came near the start of a batting collapse from New Zealand, when Australia took four wickets for seven runs in 19 balls.
Mark Craig extended the match with an unbeaten late cameo of 26 in a record last-wicket partnership for New Zealand at the Gabba of 46 with Trent Boult (15), who was last out with the New Zealand total on 295.
"Australia, they bossed the game from the start really, and thoroughly deserved the win," McCullum said.
David Warner was voted player of the match for scoring centuries in each innings, and sharing opening stands of 161 and 237 with Joe Burns — the first time an Australian opening pair has scored century partnerships in both innings of a test.
"They did a terrific job. It was tough early and for Davey and Joe to get through was really crucial for us," Australia captain Steve Smith said. "The partnerships we had in the top 3 were crucial to our success ... they set the game up for us."
Australia had all the momentum after winning the toss in the series-opening match, declaring at 556-4 on the second day, bowling New Zealand out for 317 on the third and then declaring again in the second innings at 264-4.
New Zealand, meanwhile, had plenty of setbacks. The attack struggled without Tim Southee, who injured his back bowling in the first innings but is still hopeful of playing the second test at Perth, and the batting lineup was weakened by a back injury to James Neesham that will rule the allrounder out of the remainder of the three-match series.
The biggest blow, though, was McCullum's dismissal in the penultimate over with the old ball, when Marsh took wickets with consecutive deliveries.
McCullum had shared innings-building partnerships with Ross Taylor (26) and Neesham (3) — dancing down the wicket and clobbering Lyon over long-on for six to bring up his 50 from 44 balls and later hooking Mitchell Johnson for six and cutting him for four in one over — but it was the dismissal of B.J. Watling (14), who was trapped lbw to Lyon — that contributed to his downfall. Watling reviewed the decision, the last referral allowed for New Zealand until the 80th over, and failed to get it overturned.
When Llong ruled that McCullum got an inside edge onto his pad that carried to slip in the 79th over, he couldn't have it overturned. Marsh trapped Doug Bracewell lbw for a first-ball duck on the next delivery, and it was effectively all over for New Zealand.
While he later saw the error that led to McCullum's dismissal, Smith said the wicket was a product of the DRS system.
"He hasn't hit that one. I didn't notice that at the time," Smith said. The New Zealanders, "used up their two reviews and didn't have one left. They could have used them more effectively."
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