Record partnerships, calamitous run-outs and a dropped catch on the final ball — day two of the Wellington Test had it all.
The late dismissals of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have given New Zealand a faint glimmer of hope following an otherwise disastrous day for the hosts at the Basin Reserve.
The Black Caps were bowled out for 179 following a horror collapse of 5-17 on Friday afternoon, putting Australia in a near-unassailable position in the series opener.
However, New Zealand captain Tim Southee removed Smith and Labuschagne during a nervy eight-over passage of play before stumps, with the soft dismissals giving the Kiwis something to celebrate. Smith chopped back onto his stumps for a duck after lazily flashing at a wide delivery before Labuschagne tickled one down the leg side for 2, continuing his worrying streak of low Test scores.
MATCH CENTRE: New Zealand vs Australia scorecard
But in a late twist, Southee dropped a regulation chance at third slip on the final delivery of the day to hand nightwatcher Nathan Lyon a massive reprieve and knock the wind out of New Zealand’s sails.
Australia is 2-13 at stumps, leading by 217 runs, with opener Usman Khawaja (5*) and Lyon (6*) unbeaten in the middle.
Earlier, centurion Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood formed a record-breaking 116-run partnership for the tenth wicket, surviving more than two hours at the crease to frustrate the Kiwis.
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SMITH DUCK! The experiment fails again! | 00:41
New Zealand’s top order looked amateurish during a frantic collapse of 3-0 in six deliveries, headlined by the humiliating run-out of champion batter Kane Williamson. The 33-year-old called teammate Will Young through for a quick single after fending the ball towards mid-off, with the pair colliding mid-pitch as Labuschagne threw down the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Earlier in the same over, Black Caps opener Tom Latham chopped a Mitchell Starc wobble-seam delivery back onto his stumps for 5, throwing his head back in disbelief. Minutes later, rising star Rachin Ravindra fell for a duck after scooping a wide delivery from Hazlewood towards point, where Lyon held onto a superb lunging catch.
Williamson falls to ridiculous run out | 00:48
New Zealand’s woes continued when Daryl Mitchell and Young departed on back-to-back deliveries late in the afternoon session to leave the hosts reeling at 5-29. Mitchell feathered rival captain Pat Cummins through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 11 before Young strangled a wayward delivery from Mitchell Marsh down the leg side to give Australia’s gloveman another catch.
Glenn Phillips and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell set about reviving the innings, combining for a counterpunching 84-run partnership for the sixth wicket, which featured an assortment of swashbuckling boundaries through the point region.
However, momentum shifted back in Australia’s favour when Lyon was introduced to the attack, removing Blundell and Scott Kuggeleijn in quick succession. Blundell was caught at bat-pad by Travis Head for 33 before Kuggeleijn holed out towards deep square leg for a second-ball duck.
Phillips shifted to white-ball mode after the tea break, racing towards a half-century in 43 deliveries and feasting on Australia’s bowlers as the Kookaburra lost its shine. The right-hander was supported by Henry, who smacked a trio of sixes off Lyon into the stand during an entertaining cameo of 42 (34).
However, Phillips’ resistance came to an abrupt end on 71 (70), top-edging a hook shot towards deep fine leg where Starc held onto a regulation catch. Lyon cleaned up the tail, knocking over Southee and Henry to finish with 4-43 from 8.1 overs.
Australia breakthrough as Lyon takes 2! | 00:56
Resuming day two at 9-279 in the morning session, the unlikely duo of Green and Hazlewood combined for the highest partnership of the match to steer Australia towards 383 all out. Hazlewood notched 22, his highest Test score in eight years, while Green finished unbeaten on 174 in a career-best performance that featured 23 boundaries and five sixes.
Green expertly farmed the strike and clobbered a handful of sixes onto the Basin Reserve hill as New Zealand’s bowlers peppered the West Australian with bouncers, producing an unwanted national record of 20 wides during the innings.
After the morning session was extended, Henry unearthed the much-needed breakthrough when Hazlewood chipped a delivery towards Ravindra at mid-off. The dismissal gave Henry his second five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with 5-70 from 30.1 overs.
The Wellington Test will resume on Saturday at 9am AEDT.
Australia’s highest tenth-wicket partnerships in Tests
163 — Agar/Hughes v ENG Nottingham 2013
127 — Mailey/Taylor v ENG Sydney 1924
120 — Armstrong/Duff v ENG Melbourne 1902
116 — Green/Hazlewood v NZ Wellington 2024
114 — Gillespie/McGrath v NZ Brisbane 2004
Relive all the action from day two of the first Test below!
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