The Australian team was under pressure again but Marnus Labuschagne emerged with a slant margin of scores.
Mitchell Starc overtook the popular landmark of Dennis Lillee with his three hundred and fifty-sixth wicket in the test. Josh Hazlewood gave an outstanding performance before Matt Henry led the New Zealand team to fight back late on the day of the opening of the second test at the Hagley Oval.
After team New Zealand was dismissed for a low total in Christchurch, Matt Henry claimed Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, and Travis Head’s wickets as the opposite team reached the stumps at 124 for 4 with a trail of 38 runs. Marnus Labuschagne in the fiftieth test match shrugged off a slump in his form to hold the walls firm with a 45 not out to make sure Australia got the upper hand as the team sought to clinch the series with 2-0 following their decisive victory in Wellington. Nathan Lyon was the night watcher and survived the last passage of the game as the same but the late efforts of the player Matt Henry had kept the team New Zealand afloat. After looking at Hazelwood star holds a commendable line and length bowling in the five-wicket haul of his, Matt Henry responded with an equally menacing swing as well as well-executed plans which highlighted an amazing delivery to get through the defenses of the first Test centurion Green.
The debutant of team New Zealand Ben Sears gave the team an initial spark of hope when he sent Steven Smith lbw on his third delivery in Test cricket after coming over in the ninth over to attack as a first-change bowler. It was a complete misjudgment on Steven Smith’s part because of which he was struck on his pads this led to him shouldering arms with his disappointments when he reflected unsuccessfully on the decision upheld in an umpire’s call. Despite losing their head because of a rash stroke just before losing stumps, team Australia still managed to finish the game in control after the players Michaell Starc and Josh Hazlewood combined for an eight-wicket where the opposite team capitulated for their third straight inning under 200 runs.
The decision to bowl first by Pat Cummin was rewarded with a green-tinged pitch which helped in seamless movements although the conditions did not appear as treacherous as in Wellington. Six bowlers bowled out New Zealand for 162 by tea which meant a terrible and disastrous batting performance from the team who at once lost 8 for 60 in a terrible start to an important match amid the 100 test milestone of Tim Southee along with Kane Williamson.
New Zealand only beat Australia twice from 36 test matches since 1993 and were stuck with a heavy attack with Sears replacing the injured athlete Will all the while spinner Mitchell Santner was overlooked again. Australia fielded unchanged sides for the fourth test consecutively this match.
