Image Credit- CA
Australia easily won
the inaugural Test match at the Basin Reserve by 172 runs, while Nathan Lyon
dashed New Zealand’s hopes early in the fourth day by taking ten wickets in the
match.
Following a thrilling comeback on the third day, New Zealand resumed at 111 for
3, looking intimidating at 369 with a nearly full house anticipating a surprise
attack.
However, Lyon ended New Zealand’s resistance with the wickets of Rachin
Ravindra, Tom Blundell, and Glenn Phillips in two overs following a calm start,
with the surface looking to be playing a little easier than the first three
days.
Daryl Mitchell stood
his ground in vain, watching wickets fall at the other end, and was the final
batsman to be removed for 38 off 130 balls.
Lyon was Australia’s match winner once again, finishing with 6 for 65 and match
scores of 10-108 on a court that twisted and bounced fiercely. Since 2006, it
was the first time a spinner in New Zealand had claimed ten wickets.
The main performers were Lyon (41), who also top-scored for Australia in the
second innings, and Cameron Green (174 not out), whose brilliant
innings-opening 174 on a bowler-friendly pitch was impressive. Thirteen bowlers
claimed a wicket in just the fifth Test match—the most since 1966.
After getting off to
a strong start and sending Australia in, New Zealand lamented a poor bowling
effort as they stood by helplessly as Josh Hazlewood and Aaron Green put
together a record-breaking 116 runs at the final wicket. As the match
progressed, New Zealand was also left to regret not choosing Mitchell Santner,
their frontline spinner, as the wicket began to provide more bite.
Day four’s early surrender by New Zealand was an anti-climax, as their
remarkable comeback had given them some hope. To take the lead in this series,
however, New Zealand would have to shatter all previous records; their
best-ever fourth-inning run chase was 324 against Pakistan in Christchurch in
1994.