Green Stars as Australia Take First Test

Australia has taken a massive win in the first test with Cam Green staring for the visitors.

The New Zealand bowlers struggled to break the opening stand with Steve Smith (31) and Usman Khawaja (33) being able to build some early pressure for Australia.

Matt Henry managed to grab Smith in the 25th over and this allowed New Zealand to reduce Australia from 61/1 to 89/4 with Marnus Labuschange falling to Scott Kuggeleijn for one, Khawaja bowled Henry, and Travis Head out to Will O’Rourke for one.

Cameron Green managed to find some support from Mitch Marsh (40), but with Henry striking for a third time to get Marsh, Australia were in some trouble.

Alex Carey (10), Mitch Starc (9), Pat Cummins (16), and Nathan Lyon (5) added little support for Green.

Green and Josh Hazlewood turned the game back in Australia’s favour as they had a record 10th wicket partnership against the Blackcaps of 116. 

Henry grabbed his fifth wicket of the innings to bowl Australia out for 383 with Hazlewood the last out for 22. Green finished with a test-high score of 174*.

The Kiwis struggled to get going early with the bat as they quickly fell to 29/5. Latham (5) went to Starc, Williamson (0) was run out by Labuschagne, Ravindra (0) was out to Hazlewood, Daryl Mitchell (11) edged behind to Carey off Cummins, and Young was out to Marsh for nine.

Glenn Phillips (71) was able to provide a counter-attacking inning as the Blackcaps ended on 179 all out. Tom Blundell’s 33 and Henry’s 42 were also of great assistance to New Zealand.

Lyon took 4/43 from 8.1 overs whilst Hazlewood grabbed 2/55 from 12.

Smith (0) and Labuschagne (2) both went at the end of day two to Tim Southee.

Contributions from the rest of the Australia top order, and the promoted nightwatchman Lyon (41) allowed Australia to push past a 350-run lead.

A lot of the reason behind Australia’s quick loss of wickets following the lunch break on day three was due to Phillip’s maiden five-wicket bag. He grabbed figures of 5/45 with the wickets of Khawaja (28), Green (34), Head (29), Marsh (0), and Carey (3).

New Zealand’s top order once again failed to get going in pursuit of 369 with Latham (8), Young (15), and Williamson (9) all falling on day three. 

Ravindra and Mitchell managed to see them through the rest of the final session on day three without further loss.

Ravindra fell having made 59 and this allowed the Australians to break through into the middle order. 

Blundell (0) and Phillips (1) both went to Lyon as he grabbed a five-wicket bag. Kuggleijn tried to smash it around and struck 26 before falling to Green. 

New Zealand’s tail couldn’t wag with Henry making 14 and Southee seven.

Mitchell was the last wicket to fall for 38 with Will O’Rourke finishing on 0*.

Australia took a 172-run win and lead the two-match series 1-0.