CHRISTCHURCH (New Zealand), Mar 8:
Josh Hazlewood took 5-31 as Australia bowled out New Zealand for 162 on the opening day of the second Test today, overshadowing the 100th test appearances of Kane Williamson and Tim Southee.
Williamson made 17 in the course of an accelerating collapse of the New Zealand batting order in which Tom Latham’s 38 was the highest score. Southee made 26 in a 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Matt Henry (29) which was the highest of the innings.
By stumps, Australia was 124-4 and the deficit had been reduced to 38. Marnus Labuschagne had played his way out of a slump and was 45 not out at the close and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was unbeaten on one.
Australia had been 32-2 after Ben Sears dismissed Steve Smith (11) with his third ball in test cricket and Usman Khawaja was bowled by Henry. Labuschagne put on 49 with first test century-maker Cameron Green who was out for 25 in the last hour.
Henry dismissed Travis Head (21) when Australia was 107-4 and finished the day with 3-39. But, Labuschagne’s fighting innings ensured Australia finished the day on top.
“What we pride ourselves on is how we go about our work and obviously it wasn’t ideal with the bat,” Henry said. “But, we knew how we to operate out here with the ball to put Australia under pressure.
“But, there’s a long way to go and it’s going to be a big first session tomorrow.”
Hazlewood’s inexorable line and length, just on off stump and ducking away, was too much for the New Zealand top order. His 12th five-wicket bag in tests included the wickets of Williamson, Latham, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Henry, whose wicket was the last to fall in only the 46th over.
Mitchell Starc took the wickets of Will Young (14), Glenn Phillips (2) and Scott Kuggeleijn for a first-ball duck. With Phillips’ wicket, Starc surpassed Dennis Lillee’s career tally of 356 Test wickets, a significant Australian milestone.
Australia captain Pat Cummins sent in New Zealand on a greenish pitch after winning the toss Friday. At the end of the first hour, he might have questioned his decision: New Zealand was 35-0 and Latham especially was looking comfortable.(PTI)
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