Home
On Friday, during the second day of the first cricket Test, Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood formed a historic last-wicket stand of 116 runs, causing difficulties for New Zealand and securing a strategic advantage for Australia. This partnership, the highest 10th-wicket stand Australia has ever achieved against New Zealand, persisted throughout the entire first session. It took New Zealand an additional half hour beyond the session to break the partnership. With this they shattered the previous record of 114 runs set by Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath in Brisbane in 2004.
FOLLOW NZ vs AUS' 1st Test's LIVE SCORE HERE
Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood's 10th wicket resilience
The breakthrough came 20 minutes post the scheduled lunchtime, with Hazlewood being caught at mid-off for 22 runs. This left Green unbeaten with a score of 174, propelling Australia's total to 383.
ALSO READ: Big update on Team India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement, know the date here
Hazlewood contributed by facing 62 deliveries and spending 148 minutes at the crease, supporting Green in wearing down the New Zealand side. Green's tenure at the wicket spanned over six and a half hours, during which he hit 23 boundaries and five sixes.
At 24 years old, Green reached his second Test century in the final over of the first day, closing the day at 103 not out. Hazlewood commenced the day without having scored, with Australia positioned at 279-9 after being put into bat.
Australia recover from early blows
Initially, it appeared inevitable that New Zealand would quickly dismiss Australia's first innings and commence their batting before lunch. However, Green and Hazlewood persisted at the crease, surpassing the 300 and then 350 marks, leaving New Zealand powerless to halt their progress.
After the first day's play, which had seemed evenly matched, Australia now clearly dominates the match. The additional 104 runs added by Green and Hazlewood on Friday have shifted the momentum significantly. As New Zealand prepares to bat, they find themselves at a disadvantage against what is considered the world's premier bowling attack.
ALSO READ: Revealed: How many warm-up matches will Team India play before T20 World Cup 2024?
Much of the credit for Australia's resurgence can be attributed to Green, despite some questioning his position at No. 4 in the batting order.
Green entered the fray following Marnus Labuschagne's dismissal shortly after lunch on Thursday and remained at the crease for over six hours, navigating initially challenging batting conditions.
Australia's score had faltered to 89-4 and then 156-5, but Green's presence provided a rallying point for the lower order, leading the team to a score of 267-9 when Hazlewood joined him at the crease.
Anticipating the end of their innings, Green accelerated his scoring rate just before the day's end, reaching his century with the penultimate ball of the day.
On Friday, Green surpassed his previous highest score of 114, made against India in March 2023, achieving 150 from 225 balls. His partnership with Hazlewood yielded 50 runs from 64 balls, and their 100-run collaboration came off 133 balls.
Matt Henry, who claimed the last wicket, ended with figures of 5-70, standing out as New Zealand's most effective bowler. New Zealand's bowling discipline faltered significantly in the first session, conceding 41 runs in extras, including 20 wides and 12 byes.
New Zealand's horrible batting collapse
Later, New Zealand got off to a horrible start as half of their side were dismissed at the score of 29 runs. Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra and Will Young couldn't even surpass 10-run mark. Daryl Mitchell too returned to the pavilion after scoring just 11 runs.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Smriti Mandhana's maiden WPL fifty goes in vain as RCB lose 6 wickets for 18 runs, DC win by 25 runs
Former Sunrisers Hyderabad player alleges match-fixing in Kolkata's division cricket, prompts reaction from CAB President Ganguly
Not Krunal Pandya, Lucknow Super Giants announce this overseas recruit as their vice-captain for IPL 2024
