Australia on top but Henry fights back
Kane Williamson knew he was cooked. But you’ve got to clutch at straws when the Aussies are all over you.
New Zealand’s best batter was one of seamer Josh Hazlewood’s five victims during the opening day of the second test in Christchurch yesterday, one the tourists comfortably had the better of.
Out lbw for 17 in his 100th test, nobody could fault Williamson for asking for a referral, not when New Zealand desperately needed him to come up big.
But when he trudged off Hagley Oval in front of almost 9000 hushed fans, the writing was on the wall for a team that continues to struggle with bat in hand against the world test champions.
All out for 162 inside two sessions after being sent into bat, the Black Caps did hit back with four wickets in the final session, but the tourists will head into day two in the box seat at 124-4, only 38 runs in arrears.
Indeed, just a day into the second and final test of what was a hugely anticipated series, the Black Caps are going to need their bowlers to strike early and often today if they’re to wrestle back the initiative and have a realistic shot at squaring the series.
It’s sure possible the way Matt Henry is bowling. He’s already dismissed Usman Khawaja, first-test gun Cameron Green – bowled with a peach that jagged off the surface and hit the top of off-stump – and middle-order batter Travis Head.
Ben Sears accounted for the other scalp with just his third ball in test cricket, after opener Steve Smith inexplicably shouldered arms to a straight one.
But it was Hazlewood’s day, snaring 5-31 on a surface that, believe it or not, didn’t offer the Australian seamers a heck of a lot early.
In fact, there were no signs New Zealand were going to capitulate during the first hour, as openers Tom Latham and Will Young got through to drinks relatively comfortably, and went on to put on 47 for the first scalp.
A searching Australian captain, Pat Cummins, even resorted to chucking the ball to spinner Nathan Lyon inside the
first hour, and tried five different bowlers in the space of 70 minutes.
However, once Young was brilliantly caught by a diving Mitch Marsh at third
slip, the Aussies’ body language perked up and they were sniffing blood.
Sure enough, one led to two and Latham, having done all the hard work on his way to 38, nicked a Hazlewood delivery he will know he could have shouldered arms too.
To be fair, it was at least probing, unlike the wide delivery Rachin Ravindra recklessly slashed to first slip a few deliveries before lunch.
It goes without saying the hosts would have been content at 71-2 at lunch after
being put in, only for Ravindra’s rash stroke to open the door.
On the money with a probing line and length, Hazlewood needed no invitation.
He soon nicked out Daryl Mitchell and trapped Williamson in front, before receiving a healthy and deserving ovation when he made his way to fine leg with New Zealand in a 84-5 sized hole.
Only some late hitting by Matt Henry and Tim Southee, who opened their shoulders and put on a quick-fire 55 for the ninth wicket, ensured New Zealand weren’t dismissed for under 150.