Australia 124 for 4 (Labuschagne 45*, Lyon 1*) path New Zealand 162 (Latham 38, Hazlewood 5-31, Starc 3-59) by 38 runs
After New Zealand had been dismissed for his or her lowest whole in Christchurch, Henry claimed the wickets of Usman Khawaja, Cameron Inexperienced and Travis Head as Australia reached stumps at 124 for 4 and path by 38 runs.
However the late efforts of Henry stored New Zealand afloat. Having watched Hazlewood star with immaculate line and size bowling in his five-wicket haul, Henry responded with menacing swing and well-executed plans highlighted by a spectacular supply to get by way of the defences of first Check centurion Inexperienced.
In a whole misjudgement, Smith was struck on the pads after shouldering arms along with his disappointment apparent when he reviewed unsuccessfully with the choice upheld in an umpire’s name.
Regardless of shedding Head to a rash stroke simply earlier than stumps, Australia nonetheless completed the day’s play in management after Hazlewood and Starc mixed for eight wickets as New Zealand capitulated for his or her third straight innings below 200 runs.
Pat Cummins’ choice to bowl first was rewarded on a green-tinged floor that conjured seam motion though circumstances didn’t seem as treacherous as in Wellington.
Latham had scored solely 202 runs at 16.83 in his final 12 Check innings, however he appeared assured from the get go and performed fluently in distinction to Younger, who endured a torrid time towards Hazlewood and Cummins.
Cummins – within the twelfth over – reverted to Lyon, contemporary off his 10-wicket haul on the spin-friendly Basin Reserve floor. However spin has historically not been conducive at Hagley Oval with Lyon’s entry into the assault being the earliest by a spinner ever on the floor.
Latham made a press release by sweeping the primary ball to the boundary and there was little spin on provide for Lyon, who bowled solely two overs within the innings.
Australia confronted a wicketless first session till Starc returned and within the nineteenth over ended Younger’s scratchy innings after Mitchell Marsh accomplished a troublesome low catch at third slip to set off New Zealand’s collapse.
It was the twenty ninth time Australia had chosen to bowl first in Assessments since 1998, however solely twice had they taken longer to take a wicket.
Australia rapidly gained the higher hand by lunch when Hazlewood dismissed Latham and Rachin Ravindra who edged to slide after making an attempt a unfastened drive. Ravindra threw his head again and trudged off in despair as New Zealand nosedived additional after the interval.
Given New Zealand’s familair predicament, Daryl Mitchell was once more unable to play aggressively earlier than being undone by one other gem of a supply from Hazlewood to be caught behind.
Having entered to a standing ovation, Williamson had been decided to make amends for a horror first Check, the place he had a uncommon double-failure. He pounced on uncommon unfastened deliveries from Cummins earlier than being trapped lbw on 17 by a Hazlewood ball that angled again as Williamson forlornly reviewed.
Compared to Hazlewood, Starc struggled along with his consistency and proved costly till he had Glenn Phillips caught behind down the leg facet in a dismissal that moved him previous Lillee’s tally and into fourth on Australia’s all-time wicket-taking listing.
Starc was on a roll when he had Scott Kuggeleijn lbw first ball after delivering a piercing trademark yorker that struck him on the foot as New Zealand’s long-time woes towards Australia continued.
New Zealand, having solely crushed Australia twice from 36 Check matches since 1993, caught with a seam-heavy assault with Sears changing injured fast Will O’Rourke, whereas left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was missed once more.
Australia fielded an unchanged facet for the fourth Check in a row and the identical bowling quartet for the seventh consecutive match.
Retiring umpire Marais Erasmus obtained a guard of honour from the gamers earlier than play.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based mostly in Perth
