Image Credit- AFP
On the first day of
the second Test at Hagley Oval, Mitchell Starc achieved a historic feat by
taking Dennis Lillee’s record with his 356th Test wicket. Josh Hazlewood also
had an outstanding performance before Matt Henry spearheaded a late-inning
comeback for New Zealand.
Australia reached stumps at 124 for 4, down by 38 runs, after New Zealand was
dismissed for their lowest total in Christchurch. Henry grabbed the wickets of
Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, and Travis Head.
In his 50th Test
match, Marnus Labuschagne overcame a lull in form to achieve a solid 45 not
out, giving Australia the advantage they need to secure a 2-0 series victory
after their commanding triumph in Wellington. Nathan Lyon, the nightwatcher,
made it through the final scene of the play.
However, Henry’s late efforts managed to keep New Zealand afloat. After seeing
Hazlewood dominate with flawless line and length bowling in his five-wicket
haul, Henry answered with a frightening swing and well-thought-out strategies,
capped up by a magnificent delivery to breach first Test centurion Green’s
defences.
Ben Sears, making
his Test cricket debut, ignited the game for New Zealand when he bowled Steven
Smith leg before wicket on his third ball. Sears had entered the attack in the
ninth over as the first substitute bowler.
Smith was hit on the pads due to a complete miscalculation. His dismay was
evident when he attempted to appeal the call, but the umpire’s call upheld the
result.
Even though Head was dismissed for a reckless shot just before stumps,
Australia controlled the remainder of the day’s play thanks to an eight-wicket
partnership between Hazlewood and Starc, which caused New Zealand to surrender
for the third consecutive innings below 200 runs.
Tea bowled New
Zealand out for 162 after using six bowlers. New Zealand’s batting display was
atrocious; at one point, they lost 8 for 60 in a terrible opening to a crucial
match that featured the 100-Test milestones for Tim Southee and Kane
Williamson.
After Tom Latham and Will Young blocked the new ball in a 47-run opening
partnership, New Zealand gave up a good start.
For the fourth consecutive Test match, Australia fielded an unchanged team, and
for the seventh straight game, they used the same quartet of bowlers.
Before the game, the players presented a guard of homage to retiring umpire
Marais Erasmus.