(Cricket News) On day two at Basin Reserve, Australia took a commanding lead because to a record last-wicket partnership between Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green, who both kept tormenting New Zealand.
Hazlewood’s dismissal shortly before midday brought an end to Australia’s first innings and their 116-run partnership. It surpassed Australia’s record last-wicket partnership of 114, set against New Zealand in 2004 at the Gabba by the legendary combination of Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie.
With a superb century on the first day of the series, Green cemented his position as Australia’s No. 4 and used a combination of power and placement to play with the nerves of New Zealand’s attacking unit.
With 23 boundaries and five sixes in his final 275 deliveries, he was undefeated at the end. After Australia was in trouble at 89 for 4 earlier in the innings, he and Hazlewood, who hit 22 off 62 balls, nearly batted through a long session to continue their stirring recovery.
They had by far the best partnership of the innings. The last time an Australia innings was topped by a 10-wicket stand was in 2015, when they played the West Indies, and Adam Voges and Hazlewood scored 97 runs in Rosseau. As is often the case at Basin Reserve, the surface looked to be leveling off under bright circumstances, but New Zealand went through the motions after being put to death by Green.
For a while, it looked as though New Zealand might bowl Australia out for less than 200, so it was a terrible letdown. At times, their quicks were shoddy, and New Zealand gave up 41 additional points. Matt Henry was the most outstanding bowler of the innings and grabbed a well-earned five wicket haul.
Australia targeted a total of 300 after resuming at 279 for 9, but Green had other plans as he carried over his heroics from the first game. With the field stretched and with one slip in place, Green played shrewdly and refrained from going all in right away.
Green got hit by Tim Southee on the body and then heaved for his first boundary of the day through midwicket, but runs were hard to come by on a pitch where deliveries occasionally reared.
Like the time he sent back Hazlewood after they had crossed and nearly finished a single in a hilarious scene that prompted the umpires to confer with one another, Green attempted to hoover up the strike.
When facing up, Hazlewood, who had gone 27 innings without scoring more than 11, played excellent defense and produced a number of beautiful strokes for his greatest Test score in five years.
Green was struck by Tim Southee on the body and proceeded to knock his first boundary of the day through midwicket, although the pitch was giving up plenty of runs at a slow rate due to irregular deliveries.
Green tried to hoover up the strike, just like the time he sent back Hazlewood after they had crossed and almost finished a single in a funny scenario that caused the umpires to speak with one other. Hazlewood, who had gone 27 innings without scoring more than 11, was facing up. He hit a series of wonderful strokes for his highest Test score in five years, and he played outstanding defence.
However, in an attempt to register Australia’s 350, he overexerted himself, sending one especially short pitch flying over wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and over the boundary. Australia was nine wickets down when play was prolonged by thirty minutes, and Henry eventually made the breakthrough by getting Hazlewood to chip to mid-off.
