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Following Green’s remarkable innings, where he spearheaded a defiant final-wicket partnership to guide Australia to a total of 383, the visitors’ bowling attack came to the fore, wreaking havoc on New Zealand’s batting lineup.
Scorecard: NZ vs AUS, 1st Test
Despite Glenn Phillips‘s valiant 71, New Zealand found themselves struggling against Australia’s relentless attack, losing wickets in quick succession and ultimately falling short of a competitive total.
Opting not to enforce the follow-on, Australia faced early setbacks in their second innings, losing key wickets including those of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, but ended the day with a lead of 217 runs, standing at 13 for two.
Green’s marathon innings, comprising 23 fours and five sixes, proved to be the cornerstone of Australia’s commanding position in the match, while Josh Hazlewood’s crucial contributions with the bat and ball further bolstered the visitors’ dominance.
New Zealand’s hopes of staging a comeback were dashed as Australia’s relentless bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, dismantled the home side’s batting order with precision and guile.
Despite a brief partnership between Phillips and Tom Blundell, Lyon’s four-wicket haul and Hazlewood’s crucial breakthroughs ensured that New Zealand’s innings never gained momentum, ultimately resulting in a disappointing total of 179.
As the match heads into its third day, Australia will look to consolidate their lead and further assert their dominance, while New Zealand will aim to stage a spirited fightback to keep their hopes alive in the series.
The second and final Test in Christchurch awaits, promising more gripping cricketing action starting on March 8.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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