Voges overtakes Bradman’s average to put Australia in command

Melbourne, February 13

Australian batsman Adam Voges has surpassed Sir Donald Bradman's legendary batting average of 99.94 to steer his side to a commanding position against New Zealand on the second day of the opening Test in Wellington on Saturday.

The 36-year-old veteran batsman walked off the Basin Reserve with an unbeaten 176 and an average of 100.33 to boot as Australia reached 463 for six while holding a lead of 280.

Voges, in his 19th Test innings, saw his Test average rise to more than 100, bettering Don Bradman's 99.94 from an 80-innings career.

Voges displayed tremendous resolve in his batting all day as he achieved the milestone during his 19th innings in his 14th Test match, News.com.au reported.  

Voges has scored centuries in his last three innings, posting 269 runs not out and an unbeaten 106 against the West Indies in December.

He joined forces with Usman Khwaja (140) to put a solid 168-run partnership for the fourth wicket before adding 96 runs with Peter Nevill (32) for the fifth wicket.

Voges would be required to score at least nine more runs in order to keep his average higher than that of Bradman, in case of his dismissal.

Earlier, New Zealand were bundled out for 183 in their first innings with Mark Craig top scoring with an unbeaten 41. — Agencies