STUMPS - New Zealand 134-2
Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra survive until stumps and New Zealand can now look to build on a 40-run lead with eight wickets in hand when they return for day three.
The Black Caps did well to restrict Australia to 256 with only Marnus Labushagne (90) passing 28, even if it took an all-time classic catch from Glenn Phillips to dismiss the previously under-fire batter.
Mitchell Starc (28) and Pat Cummins (23) added valuable runs to ensure Australia held a 96-run lead after an innings each, while Matt Henry can bask in taking 7/67 as the Black Caps’ other pacers found the going tough.
Latham (65*) and Kane Williamson (51) erased New Zealand’s deficit still with nine wickets in hand, as the opener reached his highest score against Australia and left the match evenly poised.
Be sure to return tomorrow as we follow every over from Christchurch.
50th over: New Zealand 134-2 (Latham 65, Ravindra 11)
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49th over: New Zealand 129-2 (Latham 64, Ravindra 7) Latham guides the ball behind the wicket for a couple of runs that also takes the opener to his highest score against Australia. The visitors would love one more before stumps and Marnus Labuschagne is full of voice, making sure Ravindra knows the pressure is about to come his way.
48th over: New Zealand 127-2 (Latham 62, Ravindra 7) Latham will likely need to make Australia pay with his second chance if New Zealand are to build a strong lead, and he starts with a clever push behind gully that earns three runs. But Latham might even want to farm the strike until stumps as Ravindra again looks scratchy against Starc. A full ball on the pads relieves the pressure as Ravindra picks up two to end the over.
47th over: New Zealand 121-2 (Latham 59, Ravindra 4) DROP! Tom Latham has played a flawless knock but can’t deal with a cracker from Hazlewood as the ball finds an edge. Carey dives across Khawaja at first slip, gets a glove to the ball but grasses a gilt-edge opportunity. The ball was dropping quickly but looked like it probably would’ve reached Khawaja until the keeper intervened.
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46th over: New Zealand 120-2 (Latham 59, Ravindra 4) Starc’s turn to trouble Ravindra, beating the bat with two consecutive balls after leaving him in two minds with one tracking outside off. Ravindra finds a single off the pads but will be back in the firing line while facing up to Cummins. Stumps is little more than 15 minutes away as Australia look to finish on a high while New Zealand seem happy to call it a day.
45th over: New Zealand 118-2 (Latham 58, Ravindra 3) No relief for Ravindra after Latham picks up an early single and Cummins continues to charge in with a spring in his step. Ravindra plays and misses at a couple, and there is a strong shout for lbw when a ball the batter might have tucked away for easy runs instead cannons into his pads. Fortunately for Ravindra, it was heading down leg and Australia choose not to review.
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44th over: New Zealand 117-2 (Latham 57, Ravindra 3) Hazlewood is back into the attack as Australia look to turn the screw. The pacer is immediately onto a testing line and length to Ravindra. The young gun looks determined to make it through to stumps rather than worrying too much about troubling the scorers before then. Maiden.
43rd over: New Zealand 117-2 (Latham 57, Ravindra 3) Cummins works on Latham again but the New Zealand batter is up to the challenge. Latham pulls one from outside off to mid-wicket for two, then Cummins responds next up with a straight one that moves away just too much to find an edge.
42nd over: New Zealand 114-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 3) Ravindra is getting his eye in as he defends Marsh throughout. Third umpire spots a no-ball to add to the score.
41st over: New Zealand 114-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 3) Cummins has answered the call (his own call?) and is now doing his thing, locking the opposition batters down as Latham looks to keep a straight bat. Maiden.
And thanks to Abhinav Dutta for reminding us that “[Ross] Taylor and Williamson plundered 265 in Perth circa 2015”, quashing the vicious rumours that Latham and Williamson had combined for the first New Zealand century partnership against Australia in more than 25 years. Let’s put that error down to the dreaded commentators’ curse, with Black Caps 100-run stands on home turf notably rarer (as are the number of Trans-Tasman Tests played there).
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40th over: New Zealand 114-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 3) Marsh tests out Ravindra with a short ball then really shakes up the youngster with one that nips back and barely misses the top of off as the batter lets it fly through. Ravindra grabs two off the last, using the pace to guide the ball through point.
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39th over: New Zealand 112-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 1) A cracking over from Cummins and just like that it feels like Australia are back in command. It started with the wicket of Williamson, but the Australia skipper troubled Latham as well. A bouncer had the left-hander ducking abruptly, and a seaming delivery for the last ball narrowly beat the outside edge. Once again, Cummins has lit a spark just when Australia needed it.
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WICKET! Williamson b Cummins 51
Cummins brings himself back on and immediately gets the breakthrough as Williamson drags the ball back onto his stumps. Williamson attempts to drive at a delivery that pitched back of a length, but gets a slight inside edge that is enough for the ball to crash into middle and off. The first loose shot from Williamson in a long while, perhaps even since tea, but he’s on his way.
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38th over: New Zealand 111-1 (Latham 55, Williamson 51) Mitch Marsh takes his turn as Australia search for a way to break up this pivotal partnership. Williamson finds a run to fine leg, then Latham adds two with a textbook cover drive.
37th over: New Zealand 108-1 (Latham 53, Williamson 50) As the milestones drop, Latham and Williamson have reached a 100-run partnership – the first for New Zealand against Australia since… 1997.
FIFTY! Kane Williamson
After a fast start the former New Zealand skipper has edged to a half-century while his batting partner has led the way since tea. Williamson reaches 50 with a quick single, hitting the mark from 105 balls. The last time Williamson was dismissed between 50 and 100 in a Test was way back in February 2020, when he fell for 89 against India. A frankly incredible 11 Test tons since then!
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FIFTY! Tom Latham
The New Zealand opener is looking in fine touch as he reaches 50 for the 41st time in 80 Tests. But Latham will now be out to make the most of his start and notch a first-ever Test century against Australia.
36th over: New Zealand 105-1 (Latham 52, Williamson 48)
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35th over: New Zealand 100-1 (Latham 48, Williamson 47) New Zealand reach 100 and can now set out to build a defendable lead. Six runs is the advantage at drinks but Latham and Williamson are settled and even lifted the tempo in the handful of overs before the break. Cummins is keen to swing the changes as Australia try to find a way to break up this partnership, but with the experienced duo still at the crease the match suddenly feels evenly-poised.
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34th over: New Zealand 95-1 (Latham 48, Williamson 42) New Zealand take the lead – by one run – as Latham smacks a pull shot to the boundary. This partnership has reached 89 runs to become the Black Caps’ highest stand in the series. Latham has also overtaken Williamson for the first time since the ninth over, after the left-hander has put the foot down with 33 runs since tea to his partner’s 17.
33rd over: New Zealand 87-1 (Latham 41, Williamson 41) Little surprise that Starc is brought back into the attack as Australia search for a breakthrough before New Zealand wipe out the rest of their first innings lead. There is no margin for error now though, as Latham and Williamson are in fine touch and combine for three singles from anything that is over-pitched or drifting onto their pads.
32nd over: New Zealand 84-1 (Latham 39, Williamson 40) Latham deals with an over-pitched teaser from Green, rightfully dispatching it through mid-off to the boundary. The next ball is pulled away for two and Latham then adds another past point. Williamson gets in on the action in a costly over from Green, rising onto his back foot to drive through gully for four. New Zealand have suddenly lifted the tempo and, dare we say it, are at least nudging Australia towards the ropes here.
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31st over: New Zealand 73-1 (Latham 32, Williamson 36) Latham shows Hazlewood the full face of the blade with a powerful cover drive that is stopped just short of the rope for three. The Australian quick immediately responds, getting one to jag away from Williamson as the Kiwi looks to defend on the front foot. Williamson finishes with a pair of twos, the first through mid-wicket, the next with a trademark cover drive. That over has lit a spark!
30th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Latham 29, Williamson 31) Green takes the cherry from Lyon to bowl into the breeze and is straight around the wicket to Latham. A few workhorse overs of short-pitched bowling might be on the cards for Green, but he’s happy to pitch it up as Latham only plays when forced to. A bouncer finally lands with the last delivery and Latham is untroubled. That’s three maidens in a row.
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29th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Latham 29, Williamson 31) Williamson has been the more patient of the Black Caps batters since tea and is again here as Hazlewood bowls a maiden.
28th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Latham 29, Williamson 31) Latham in control now whether Lyon pitches up or back of a length. The opener reaches the boundary off a shorter ball, staying in his crease and punching past cover.
Hard agree on Morto’ call via email: “PM Dawn’s cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “You’ve Got Me Floatin’” is their best work”:
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27th over: New Zealand 61-1 (Latham 25, Williamson 31) Williamson with another sweetly-timed drive but is only rewarded with a single as Cummins, now back on the field, cuts it off at mid-on. Latham adds another when easing a short ball to deep square leg.
26th over: New Zealand 59-1 (Latham 24, Williamson 30) Lyon to Latham and the off-spinner gets the ball to drift, grip and cannon off the pitch, all in the one delivery as Latham leans forward to defend but misses. Maiden.
Might just be me but all this talk of “drift” has found this PM Dawn classic somewhere in the memory bank (warning: may or may not contain cuss words):
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25th over: New Zealand 59-1 (Latham 24, Williamson 30) Hazlewood into the attack with Cummins leaving the field. Latham punches a single through the off-side. Feels like a shock comment to make this summer, but Australia are letting the game drift along at the moment.
24th over: New Zealand 58-1 (Latham 23, Williamson 30) Latham isn’t afraid to step out of his crease to Lyon, first to defend and then to pick up a single towards mid-wicket. Williamson is happier to play Lyon from his crease for now.
23rd over: New Zealand 57-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 30) Cummins and Williamson renew their battle and the Australian quick mixes up his length with a bouncer. Another short ball follows but this time Williamson pulls without quite keeping the ball down. A nervy moment for Williamson as the ball sails high to long-leg, until it falls safely for a couple of runs. Fifty partnership up for Latham-Williamson, but still with plenty of work to do as Australia lead by 37 runs.
22nd over: New Zealand 55-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 28) Latham and Williamson untroubled even as Lyon finds his range outside off whether bowling to the left- or right-hander. Williamson starts the over with a single to long-on.
21st over: New Zealand 54-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 27) Cummins again, this time with the neatest over since the break. Six balls, all targeted outside off, varied length. Williamson picks up a quick single with soft hands and a tap towards cover. Enthralling battle brewing here.
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20th over: New Zealand 53-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 26) SHOT! Latham punishes a short ball through cover all the way to the rope, then sees off the rest of the over comfortably. Even with Lyon in the attack, rather than pacers from both ends, Latham and Williamson have certainly picked up where they left off before tea with a composed re-start.
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19th over: New Zealand 49-1 (Latham 18, Williamson 26) Captain Cummins starts from the other end, Williamson rocking back to pull a ball just back of a length past square for one. Cummins goes around the wicket again to Latham who works a single off a fuller delivery.
18th over: New Zealand 47-1 (Latham 17, Williamson 25) Nathan Lyon perhaps a surprise choice to bowl the first over after tea. But the off-spinner quickly reminds us why Cummins turns to him at a time of need with four balls right on the spot. Latham steps down the pitch for a glorious shot through mid-wicket for four.
TEA: New Zealand 43-1 (Australia lead by 51 runs)
Latham and Williamson see New Zealand through to the break after reducing Australia’s first innings lead to 51.
Their 37-run partnership caps off a promising session for the Black Caps after they wrapped up the visitor’s innings at 256 and made a steady start to the chase.
Starc made the early breakthrough as Will Young nicked one to Alex Carey for one, but Latham and Williamson picked up the chase with the former skipper looking especially solid in his 100th Test.
Now for a quick break and time to watch Glenn Phillips’ latest screamer on repeat.
17th over: New Zealand 43-1 (Latham 13, Williamson 25)
TEA: NZ chipping away at the deficit, still with nine wickets in hand #NZvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 9, 2024
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16th over: New Zealand 42-1 (Latham 12, Williamson 25) Green to Williamson and the Black Caps batter makes the most of the only loose delivery of the over, easing the ball through – you guessed it – cover as tidy fielding from Labuschagne limits the damage to two.
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15th over: New Zealand 40-1 (Latham 12, Williamson 23) Latham has tea on his mind as Cummins comes around the wicket. Anything outside off is allowed to pass by, but Latham is noticeably disappointed not to get bat and ball as a rare wayward delivery from Cummins drifts down leg. Maiden.
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14th over: New Zealand 40-1 (Latham 12, Williamson 23) Cameron Green is thrown the ball as Australia search for a breakthrough on the brink of tea. The all-rounder starts around the wicket to the leftie Latham, cramping him up with the ball angled in. The Black Caps opener misses a couple of opportunities make the angle of the ball work for him, but eventually knocks the last delivery to the on-side.
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13th over: New Zealand 39-1 (Latham 11, Williamson 23) Cummins is working away in his favourite channel outside off. Williamson and Latham each find a single around cover, but the Australia skipper gives them no room to even consider doing anything else.
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12th over: New Zealand 37-1 (Latham 10, Williamson 22) Hazlewood continues to Latham and the Black Caps batter remains watchful, perhaps waiting to see off the Australia pacer. A no-ball for overstepping the only score in an otherwise tidy over.
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11th over: New Zealand 36-1 (Latham 10, Williamson 22) Pat Cummins brings himself into the attack as the experienced Kiwi pair start to look comfortable. Latham is immediately off strike with a leg-glance, while Williamson brings out a stunning cover drive for four. Another boundary off the last ball of the over as Williamson guides it - intentionally or otherwise - between the slips cordon and gully.
Hard to argue with Ric here:
Nothing more pleasant to the eye than a Williamson cover-drive...
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) March 9, 2024
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10th over: New Zealand 27-1 (Latham 9, Williamson 14) Big appeal as Hazlewood gets a straight one to nip in and rap Williamson on the back pad. Hazlewood is half-keen for another look but Cummins needs to be convinced with height the concern. Australia resist the temptation to send it upstairs, and replays show it was the correct call. All that after Latham started the over with three runs for nudging a straight one square.
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9th over: New Zealand 24-1 (Latham 6, Williamson 14) Williamson finds a couple of boundaries on the off-side. The first is another sweetly-timed cover drive as Starc pitches a touch too full. Williamson punishes the last ball of the over past point, while down on one knee, after Starc sends it wide.
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8th over: New Zealand 16-1 (Latham 6, Williamson 6) Almost a mix up running between wickets as the call is a clear ‘yes!’ then both batters hesitate for a moment. The throw goes wide and Latham had just scampered across the crease anyway. Still a warning to the Kiwis though, especially after Williamson’s run out in the first Test.
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7th over: New Zealand 14-1 (Latham 5, Williamson 5) Latham picks up a couple off the pad, then adds a single from a leading edge that lands safely near a vacant cover. Williamson picks up his first boundary with a typically elegant, well-timed cover drive. A positive over from the Black Caps pair.
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6th over: New Zealand 7-1 (Latham 4, Williamson 1) Mitchell Starc might have the breakthrough but Josh Hazlewood is posing all sorts of problems for New Zealand with the ball nipping around. The final delivery beats Williamson’s bat as he reaches to defend. Maiden.
Thanks Rob, love your work as usual. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed a gripping first session and a bit, as Australia edged ahead even while Matt Henry at least kept them in check.
I’ll be steering us to stumps - keep me company and get in touch on email.
Let’s get into it!
5th over: New Zealand 7-1 (Latham 4, Williamson 1) Williamson is also leaving as much as possible. Starc tightens his line as a result, hitting Williamson in the chest before being worked off the pads for a single. He ends the over with another jaffa to beat Latham outside off.
This is an intriguing battle of skill but also will – New Zealand want Australia to bowl to them, Australia want New Zealand to enter the dreaded corridor of uncertainty. With that, I’ll hand over to Martin Pegan for the rest of the day’s play. Ta-ra!
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4th over: New Zealand 6-1 (Latham 4, Williamson 0) Latham tries to whip a full ball from Hazlewood to leg and gets a leading edge back to the bowler. It was safe enough, all along the floor. He’s happy to leave anything on a good length outside off stump; the result is a maiden.
3rd over: New Zealand 6-1 (Latham 4, Williamson 0) The new batsman is Kane Williamson, who is long overdue against Australia. His last Test fifty against them was in 2016, since when his run of scores is 34, 14, 9, 0, 0, 9 and 17.
Starc greets him with another lifter that zings through to Carey. New Zealand trail by 88.
WICKET! New Zealand 6-1 (Young c Carey b Starc 1)
Classic Mitchell Starc: a wide followed by a snorter to take the first wicket. It was a brilliant delivery, which lifted from a perfect line and length. Young pushed defensively and thin-edged it through to Alex Carey.
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2nd over: New Zealand 5-0 (Latham 4, Young 1) Josh Hazlewood, who ran through New Zealand yesterday and has taken 28 wickets at 12 this year, shares the new ball.
Latham gets off the mark with a crisp drive through extra cover for four; Hazlewood beats him next up with a beauty. On commentary, Brendon Julian echoes the opinion of Matt Henry that this is a new-ball pitch.
1st over: New Zealand 0-0 (Latham 0, Young 0) Starc’s first delivery of the innings is a classic outswinger that beats Latham all ends up. In fact the ball moves throughout a fine first over which ends with Latham again playing and missing.
Marnus Labuschagne is the only player to get past 40 in this game. Australia’s total was built on his excellent 90 but also a series of useful 20s from the bowlers. Now it’s time for the day job.
Australia lead by 94 runs
Matt Henry leads the team off after another outstanding effort. He finished with figures of 23-4-67-7, a record for New Zealand at home to Australia, and was close to a one-man attack. The other seamers had combined figures of 2 for 169.
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WICKET! Australia 256 all out (Cummins LBW b Henry 23)
Matt Henry finishes the job by taking his seventh wicket. Cummins, on the walk, got his pad stuck behind his front pad and was hit in front by a very full delivery. Marais Erasmus gave it not out but New Zealand reviewed straight away. It looked plumb and replays confirmed as much.
67th over: Australia 255-9 (Cummins 23, Hazlewood 0) Fantastic batting from Pat Cummins, who clubs the new bowlers Ben Sears for 18 from four balls. After three fours of varying quality – down the ground, over midwicket and over the slips – he launched the final ball of the over into the crowd at midwicket. All of a sudden, Australia lead by 93.
Meanwhile, Niall Connolly points out that Henry had figures of 6 for 66 at the end of the 66th over.
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66th over: Australia 237-9 (Cummins 5, Hazlewood 0) A fortnight ago, Matt Henry had taken four wickets an average of 110 in Tests against Australia. In this series he’s picked up 14 at an average of 12.
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WICKET! Australia 237-9 (Starc c Blundell b Henry 28)
Six wickets for the outstanding Matt Henry. Starc has another mow across the line but this time gets a gossamer-thin edge through to the keeper. That ends the second handy innings of the day from an Australian bowler, 28 to go with Nathan Lyon’s 20 this morning.
65th over: Australia 236-8 (Starc 28, Cummins 4) Starc clouts Southee over midwicket for four, which extends Australia’s lead to 74. There was a false stroke earlier in the over that landed just short of extra cover; it looked like the ball stopped in the pitch.
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64th over: Australia 230-8 (Starc 22, Cummins 4) Henry prefers to bowl from the other end, where he has taken all five wickets, but he’s starting to find some rhythm in this spell. He hits Starc on the thigh, beats the outside edge and induces a smear from Starc that goes safely for a single on the leg side.
63rd over: Australia 229-8 (Starc 21, Cummins 4) Southee keeps Cummins honest with a sharp bouncer that forces Cummins to abort his planned attacking stroke. A fuller ball allows Cummins to force a drive between extra cover and mid-off for four. That’s a nice way to get off the mark.
62nd over: Australia 225-8 (Starc 21, Cummins 0) Matt Henry replaces Glenn Phillips, with a chance to take his second Test seven-for. His second ball is belted whence it came by Starc, a cracking statement of intent. The rest of the over passes without incident.
61st over: Australia 221-8 (Starc 17, Cummins 0) Pat Cummins leaves or defends the last four balls of the over.
The players are back on the field. Tim Southee will resume the over he started before lunch.
Meanwhile, in Dharamsala
“That’s as spectacular a catch as I can recall seeing (Strauss in 2005 maybe?),” writes Gary Naylor. “I like Phillips - as is the case for a good midfielder, you never have to wait too long before he’s in the game: batting, bowling or fielding.”
It had me YouTubing Jonty Rhodes, which would be seen as a compliment in some cultures.
Lunch: Australia lead by 59 runs
The wicket means it’s the last ball before the interval. It was a pretty decent morning for Australia: they lost four wickets but scored at a good rate and built a lead of 59 – useful in any circumstances, very handy given the form of Australia’s bowlers and New Zealand’s top order.
That is an outrageous catch. Labuschagne cut Southee towards backward point, where Phillips flew to his right and took another stunning one-handed grab. I’m running out of ways to say I’m running out of superlatives. to describe his fielding. Labuschagne, who was in total control throughout the session, can’t believe he’s been denied a hundred.
WHAT. A. CATCH. 🤯
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) March 9, 2024
Glenn Phillips, stop it! 👏
📺 Watch #NZvAUS on Ch. 501 or stream via@kayosports https://t.co/gvE7AzRVli
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/Ifcx793dWc
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/5JQBreru2r pic.twitter.com/AWjUDioZdZ
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WICKET! Australia 221-8 (Labuschagne c Phillips b Southee 90)
Glenn Phillips has taken another blinder!
60th over: Australia 221-7 (Labuschagne 90, Starc 17) A single off Phillips takes Labuschagne into the nineties. Starc defends a few deliveries before being tempted by a wider, flight delivery that he slaps short of mid off.
59th over: Australia 220-7 (Labuschagne 89, Starc 17) The game is meandering towards the lunch break, which suits Australia more than New Zealand. As well as stockpiling runs with his usual efficiency, Labuschagne has played with a certainty that has made Australia feel in control even with a relatively small lead. At no stage has it felt like New Zealand could pick up the last few wickets in a hurry.
58th over: Australia 217-7 (Labuschagne 87, Starc 16) Starc is struggling against Phillips, who looks a very useful offspinner. He’s beaten outside off, then flicks not far of midwicket at catchable height. That shot brings Starc a couple of runs and extends Australia’s lead to 55.
57th over: Australia 215-7 (Labuschagne 87, Starc 14) Southee replaces Sears, so Henry is being saved until after lunch. Tom Blundell comes up to the stumps to keep Labuschagne in his crease, which is a good excuse to post this old favourite.
Labuschagne finds the fielder a couple of times before squirting past backward point for two. He’s 13 away from a cathartic century.
56th over: Australia 213-7 (Labuschagne 85, Starc 14) Any turn that Phillips gets is double-edged for New Zealand, who will have to face Nathan Lyon later today. A good over ends with Starc fresh-airing a lusty yahoo across the line.
55th over: Australia 212-7 (Labuschagne 84, Starc 14) “Two two two two!” urges Labuschagne the moment he flicks Sears off the pads. Starc obliges, and later in the over Labuschagne plays an even better stroke to the same area for three runs. He looks in complete control.
Seven from the over. Sears appeals for LBW against Starc off the last ball but it clearly pitched outside leg.
54th over: Australia 205-7 (Labuschagne 78, Starc 13) Phillips tempts Starc with a nice bit of flight outside off stump. Starc decides to indulge his basic urges and clatters it over extra cover for four. It wasn’t cleanly struck but it cleared the two fielders. Australia’s lead, 43 now, is creeping into dangerous territory in what is likely to remain a low-scoring game.
53rd over: Australia 198-7 (Labuschagne 75, Starc 9) Surely New Zealand should bring Matt Henry back in place of Sears. It would be ahead of schedule but if they wait until after lunch it could be too late, especially with Australia’s scoring rate. Starc, who has made a breezy start, hits Sears for three consecutive twos.
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52nd over: Australia 192-7 (Labuschagne 75, Starc 3) Starc flicks his first ball in the air and not far wide of short leg. Australia lead by 30 and are very thankful for Marnus Labuschagne’s unbeaten 75.
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WICKET! Australia 189-7 (Carey c Latham b Phillips 14)
The golden arm strikes again! Glenn Phillips has taken a wicket with his second ball. Carey tried to lap a ball that turned and bounced more than expected and maybe got stuck in the pitch as well; all he could do was toe-end it gently to midwicket.
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51st over: Australia 189-6 (Labuschagne 75, Carey 14) Sears’ pace is decent, in the 140s, though Labuschagne and Carey have looked comfortable enough. Carey taps the last ball of the over for a single, thus denying Sears the first maiden of the day.
“There’s something wonderfully relaxing about Tests in NZ isn’t there?” writes Gary Naylor. “I think it’s the level of cooperation on show: hard, but fair cricket with more smiles than snarls; crowds trusted to find their own space on the banks; and respectful applause for friends and foes alike. It should really be available on the NHS.”
50th over: Australia 188-6 (Labuschagne 75, Carey 13) Labuschagne is beaten by a spectacular legcutter from Southee, bowled from wider on the crease.
New Zealand have threatened to take all wickets all morning but they’re struggling to control the run rate. Carey gets three more later in the over with a clatter through the covers.
49th over: Australia 184-6 (Labuschagne 74, Carey 10) Sears replaces Henry, who bowled a menacing spell of 6-0-21-2. A decent start, one from it, and that’s drinks. Australia lead by 22.
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48th over: Australia 183-6 (Labuschagne 73, Carey 10) Southee replaces Kuggeleijn, who struggled in a short spell of 2-0-18-0. That must mean Sears will replace Henry at the other end.
Carey is beaten outside off, inside-edges past leg stump for four and offers no stroke to a nipbacker that hits him in front of middle. New Zealand go up for LBW but Marais Erasmus isn’t interested. It was too high.
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47th over: Australia 179-6 (Labuschagne 73, Carey 6) Labuschagne continues to walk at Henry, which ensures he’s outside the line when an off-cutter hits him on the pad. Henry is bowling beautifully; he needs support.
“Up until a couple of years ago, it was hard to see Matt Henry being a regular in the NZ Test lineup with Boult, Southee and Jamieson in position for the foreseeable future,” writes Charan. “But with Jamieson injured, Boult (effectively) retired from red ball cricket, and Southee out of form, Henry has really stepped up. Not to mention he has the most runs as well as wickets for NZ in this series!”
It’s a great point; he’s gone from spare part to attack leader in the space of, what, two years? His Test average never made sense because he always looked good in ODIs.
46th over: Australia 177-6 (Labuschagne 72, Carey 5) Another poor ball from Kuggeleijn is clipped to fine leg for four by Labuschagne, who has scored at an excellent rate without leaving his bubble. Block the good balls, hit the bad ones; next stop, rocket science.
Kuggeleijn hasn’t started well at all, and his second over ends with Carey cutting to third man for four.
45th over: Australia 166-6 (Labuschagne 66, Carey 0) For a long time Matt Henry’s Test average was a travesty, given his ability; now it’s down to an acceptable 32.70, and on current form it won’t be long before it’s in the twenties.
WICKET! Australia 166-6 (Marsh LBW b Henry 0)
He’s gone! Back-to-back five-fors for Matt Henry, and back-to-back ducks for Mitchell Marsh. He walked down the track and was beaten on the inside by a good delivery that came back off the seam. Southee was reluctant to review, spooked by that Labuschagne mess earlier in the day, but it hit Marsh in line and would have pinged the top of middle and leg.
A very good (albeit late) review from NZ - Marsh gone for a duck #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/D7MF2voMhb
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 8, 2024
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It was similar to the Labuschagne fiasco earlier in the day – except Marsh was nowhere near as far down the pitch. It should be close.
New Zealand review for LBW against Marsh! Southee made the signal at the last second, conscious that this is New Zealand’s last review.
44th over: Australia 165-5 (Labuschagne 65, Marsh 0) A change of bowling, but it’s Scott Kuggeleijn rather than Ben Sears who replaces Southee. Perhaps New Zealand are fearful of Marsh’s record against proper pace bowling.
After a few decent balls, Kuggeleijn sends down a miserable delivery that is cut for four by Labuschagne. Those runs take Australia into the lead.
43rd over: Australia 158-5 (Labuschagne 59, Marsh 0) This is the partnership. If Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh are batting at lunch, New Zealand will need snookers.
“Nice to see you holding your hands up to shonking that lbw call earlier (tho’ you called it perfectly first time, thus proving that mature reflection and detailed analysis never beats the instinctive seat-of-the-pants call),” writes Robert Wilson. “It’s a shocking Kiwi record against their noisy neighbours, that. The Aussies are definitely in their heads. But then Aussies are always in everybody’s heads. It’s where they live. What would Shane Warne have been without it? They’re exactly like old-school movie vampires. Inviting them in is the fatal mistake.”
Matthew Engel wrote a majestic piece on this subject after Adelaide 2006, I’ll see if I can find it.
WICKET! Australia 158-5 (Lyon c Mitchell b Henry 20)
Matt Henry ends an irriating little cameo from Nathan Lyon. The ball after bringing up a rapid fifty partnership, Lyon edged a back-foot force straight to Mitchell at first slip. It was another good innings from Lyon, 20 from 27 balls. He’s loving his batting right now. The bowling isn’t exactly crushing his spirit either.
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42nd over: Australia 154-4 (Labuschagne 58, Lyon 17) Southee might need to swallow his pride and bring on Ben Sears at this end. He hasn’t bowled badly, by any means, but his pace is in the 120s and Australia are starting to look ominously comfortable.
41st over: Australia 153-4 (Labuschagne 58, Lyon 16) Labuschagne rotates strike for the first time this morning, but Henry only gets one delivery at Lyon. Labuschagne steals a pair of twos on the leg side to keep the scoreboard moving. The fact he has returned to form by making tough, important runs will give him so much satisfaction.
“Just looking at that photo above the OBO and you can forget Lord’s, the MCG, the Modi Memorial park or wherever that’s grandiose,” says Geoff Wignall. “That’s a proper cricket ground, with space for spectators to stretch out.”
40th over: Australia 147-4 (Labuschagne 53, Lyon 15) Lyon drives Southee through extra cover for four more. These runs are really hurting New Zealand, especially as Lyon was dropped in the second over of the day. Southee continues to pitch the ball up and beats the outside edge a couple of times. Australia trail by 15.
39th over: Australia 143-4 (Labuschagne 53, Lyon 11) Labuschagne is walking so far down the pitch to Henry that the umpires are talking to him about intruding on the danger area. It’s all very civil. I’ve only seen that once before, with England’s Keaton Jennings against Pakistan (I think) in 2018.
When Henry goes searching for the first time, Labuschagne times a boundary through mid-on to bring up an excellent half-century from 90 balls. That’s a fine way to draw a line under a dreadful little spell of 11 runs in four innings.
38th over: Australia 139-4 (Labuschagne 49, Lyon 11) The New Zealand captain Tim Southee struggled yesterday but he should have taken his first wicket a moment ago. Nathan Lyon edged to first slip, where Daryl Mitchell spilled a two-handed chance above his head. For a quality fielder that was fairly straightforward.
Lyon gets two runs for that and then four when he slices the next ball through backward point. An irksome over for New Zealand ends with Lyon punching another boundary past extra cover. That’s a fine shot.
37th over: Australia 128-4 (Labuschagne 49, Lyon 1) Henry, knowing that Labuschagne wants to walk down and across, tries to bowl him behind his legs. Labuschagne is good enough to flick it crisply through square leg for four.
An eventful first over ends with a jaffa that snaps off the seam to beat the outside edge.
Labuschagne is not out! Scratch that, he was outside the line and more than three metres down the wicket. New Zealand lose a review – they have only one left - and I need new glasses.
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Hang on, this looks out…
New Zealand review for LBW agianst Labuschagne! I reckon he’s just outside the line because he walked down the track to Henry. But it’s close.
Ding a ling a ling Dayle Hadlee, elder brother of Sir Richard, rings the bell for the start of play. Matt Henry has the ball.
“I’m a Labuschagne convert since I saw him on the Grade Cricketer podcast,” writes Laurence Boyd. “Hadn’t appreciated his personality really til then.”
He’s an eccentric nerd isn’t he? I ask that question with envy, lest it be miscontrued.
As does Matt Henry
It’s a good wicket. It’s my home ground so you won’t hear a bad word said. It does tend to flatten out to be a good surface. [Josh Hazlewood] bowled beautifully, he didn’t go searching for wickets. It was just a really tidy spell of bowling. That’s what pressure does in Test cricket, right? If you do that from both ends, somebody will get the rewards.
It’s a fine line. If you go searching [for a magic delivery] here you can get hurt with boundaries, because it’s a fast outfield and a true surface. You need to be patient and bring the stumps into play without going over the top.
It’s a big first hour. The key is to operate for the guy at the other end – I know that’s a cliche but against a good side like Australia you have to be patient.
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Josh Hazlewood speaks before play
The ball was coming out quite nicely either side of lunch, my rhythm was good. In the first hour the wicket felt a bit soft and slow but then it got baked by the sun. It seemed to quicken up and we were able to get those nicks.
Anything back of a length stuck in the pitch and sat up, so it was about pushing the ball up a bit further and letting the wicket do the work.
Preamble
Hello, good morning and welcome to live coverage of the second and probably penultimate day in the second Test between New Zealand and Australia. It’s 30 years next week since Ken Rutherford calmly guided New Zealand to victory over Allan Border’s Australia in Auckland. That match is the last time the Aussies lost a Test or failed to win a series in New Zealand.
Thirty years! It’s a bewildering statistic, one that has perpetuated itself in the 21st century, and you don’t need Carel Struycken to tell you it appears to be happening again. Australia had the better of the first day, with Josh Hazlewood bowling majestically to nobble New Zealand for 162. If they see off the first spell from Matt Henry, who bowled beautifully last night, they should sit snugly in the box seat.
Australia will resume on 124 for four, a deficit of 38, with Marnus Labuschagne on 45 and Nathan Lyon on 1. Labuschagne’s return to something resembling form is very welcome, but the batter New Zealand really fear in this situation is the next man in, Mitchell Marsh. Two hours of his coruscating strokeplay could finish them off.
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