Australian nightwatcher Nathan Lyon has fallen agonisingly short of a maiden Test fifty in Wellington, dismissed by Black Caps seamer Matt Henry for 41.
The 36-year-old, who was dropped by rival captain Tim Southee on the final delivery of day two, came out swinging on Saturday morning, at one stage cracking three consecutive boundaries.
However, Henry broke through in the 16th over, with Lyon clipping towards Will Young at mid-wicket.
Lyon’s highest Test score remains 47, achieved against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018.
Australia is 3-53 with Usman Khawaja (8*) and Cameron Green (0*) at the crease.
MATCH CENTRE: New Zealand vs Australia scorecard
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Final ball leaves Lyon’s wicket BEGGING | 00:28
TALKING POINTS: Green exposes baffling Kiwi ploy; awkward question Marnus can’t escape
DAY 2 REPORT: Record partnership, calamitous run out and final-ball dropped catch
Australia will hope a wobbly start to its second innings in Wellington isn’t a sign of things to come on day three as New Zealand aims to mount a massive comeback in the first Test.
The hosts were humbled across the better part of two days’ play with Australia, once in trouble at 9-267, posting 383 before skittling the Black Caps for 179.
Australia didn’t enforce the follow-on in a decision that didn’t deliver short-term success as the tourists lost Steve Smith on the third ball of the innings for a duck, and Marnus Labuschagne for six in the fifth over.
Cameron Green earlier smashed an unbeaten 174 to claim only his second Test century, backing up the 114 he scored in India a year ago.
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