The bowlers ruled the first day of the Christchurch Test. 14 wickets fell in one day. Among them 10 in New Zealand and 4 in Australia.
Australia is not very relieved after wrapping up New Zealand for 162 runs in the first innings. They ended the first day with 124 runs for 4 wickets. Still trailing by 38 runs.
Australia’s two openers Steven Smith (11) and Usman Khawaja (16) could not benefit. Cameron Greene (25) and Travis Head (21) were set out. Out of this three wickets were of Matt Henry, Khawaja and Green again he bowled cleanly.
Marnus Labuschenne is batting with 45 runs. Nathan Lyon came in as the nightwatchman with 1 run unbeaten.
Earlier, the Kiwis struggled to handle Australia’s two pacers Jos Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Hazlewood took 5 wickets alone, Starc got three.
However, New Zealand did not have a bad start after losing the toss and batting. Playing till the 19th over, Tom Latham and Will Young gave away 47 runs in the opening pair. After breaking the pair of Starc, Young, who made 14 off 57 balls, seemed to be in awe of the Kiwi innings. Latham was the victim of Hazelwood by scoring 38 runs off 69 balls.
After that, the hosts kept losing one wicket after another. Tom Blundell scored 22 to take the team past the hundred. Kiwis lost 8 wickets for 107 runs.
If Matt Henry and Tim Southee didn’t add 55 runs for the ninth wicket, New Zealand would have been more embarrassed. Henry 29 and Southee 26 runs from the bat. Kiwis’ first innings stopped at 162 runs in 45.2 overs.
MMR/GKS
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