New Zealand v Australia cricket: Nathan Lyon takes 10 to hand tourists comfortable win
Nathan Lyon ran riot in the first Test to hand Pat Cummins a massive victory over New Zealand, with the GOAT pulling off a feat no Australian spinner has before.
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On a Wellington pitch offering uncharacteristic turn, Nathan Lyon spun Australia to a convincing victory before lunch on day four.
Having collected a four-for in New Zealand’s first innings, Lyon completed a 10-wicket Test by snaring six second innings scalps to help bowl the hosts out for 196, handing Australia a 172-run win.
He finished the innings with figures of 6-65 and the Test with a haul of 10-108. He is the first Australian spinner to ever take 10 wickets in a Test in New Zealand, and his figures are the best of any spinner to have played at Basin Reserve, bettering Muttiah Muralitharan’s haul of 10-118 in 2006.
An Australian victory looked the most likely result when play resumed on Sunday with New Zealand 3-111 chasing a target of 369, but with rising star Rachin Ravindra unbeaten on 56 the hosts were holding onto hopes of a miracle chase.
After a quiet first half-hour that still looked to be on the cards, only for the wheels to come off in the space of 10 Lyon deliveries.
With pressure building, Australia packed out the point region and Ravindra fell for the trap, toe-ending a wide delivery from Lyon straight into the hands of Cameron Green, perishing for 59. Three balls later Lyon struck again, Tom Blundell out for a duck, caught at bat-pad. The offie completed his five-wicket haul in his next over, trapping Glenn Phillips (1) plumb in front as New Zealand slumped from 3-126 to 6-128.
Victory was a formality from there, with entertaining cameos from Scott Kuggeleijn and Matt Henry (14) not enough to halt Australia’s momentum, with Lyon returning to the action to claim his sixth wicket - Tim Southee (7) - before Josh Hazlewood knocked over Daryl Mitchell (38) to wrap up the innings.
Re-live the action below!
11AM AEDT: AUSTRALIA WIN!
Darryl Mitchell’s vigil comes to an end and Australia has won the Test by 172 runs.
The all-rounder looks to heave Hazlewood across the line but only offers up a tame return catch.
10:44AM AEDT: LYON TAKES 10
Lyon completes his 10-wicket match haul and Australia are one away from victory now.
Tim Southee goes the long-handle but can’t clear Mitchell Starc in the deep and perishes for seven.
The injured Will O’Rourke has come out to bat. 9-194.
10:37AM AEDT: TWO TO GO!
Australia in touching distance now.
Josh Hazlewood opens his second innings account with the wicket of Matt Henry, who wafts at a short of a length ball, edging it to the cordon where Steve Smith takes a catches high to his right with a minimum of fuss.
Henry gone for 14 and this could be wrapped up this session.
8-188.
10:17AM AEDT: GREEN GETS HIS MAN
Cameron Green sends down a brute of a short ball to account for Scott Kuggeleijn. The New Zealand No.8 has swung freely through a 28-ball 26, and Green decides he’s seen enough of it, angling one into the body ath Kuggeleijn can only fend through to the keeper.
New Zealand 7-164 and Australia can smell victory now.
9:45AM AEDT: LYON COMPLETES FIVE-FOR
This Test is moving rapidly now.
Lyon up the pace with a quicker, flatter ball, and pings Glen Phillips on the pads flush in front of the stumps. The all-rounder opts for a review but it’s three bright red lights and he has to go.
Lyon’s past 10 balls read: . .W . . W . . . W
That secures Lyon’s 24th five-wicket haul - his first in New Zealand. He has now taken five-wicket hauls in nine of the 10 countries he has toured - the exception being the United Arab Emirates.
New Zealand in dire straits at 6-128.
9:30AM AEDT: RAVINDRA FALLS FOR LYON TRAP IN TWO-WICKET OVER
A frustrating morning comes to an end for Rachin Ravindra.
Dubbed a “superstar” by Lyon after stumps yesterday, Ravindra falls to the Australian spinner early on day four.
With the point area packed with fielders for this very shot, the young gun toes ends a cut shot straight into the hands of Cameron Green, perishing for 59.
Three balls later and Lyon is celebrating again as Tom Blundell falls for a duck, caught at bat-pad.
Lyon has four and the Australians can smell blood in the water.
9AM AEDT: STARC GETS THINGS UNDERWAY
A small surprise to start the day!
Mitchell Starc, rather than Nathan Lyon gets first use of the cherry. It’s a tidy start from the left-armer who hovers in the low 140s through a maiden.
The wait for Lyon is not a long one, he’s in for the second over, changing ends from yesterday.
New Zealand 3-111.
PREAMBLE: TEST ‘VERY, VERY ALIVE’ – BRAD HADDIN
– Tim Michell
Former Test gloveman Brad Haddin says the first Test is “very, very alive” as New Zealand eyes a record run chase against Australia’s much-vaunted attack at The Basin.
The Kiwis will resume at 3-111, still needing an improbable 259 runs for victory with Rachin Ravindra unbeaten on 56 and Daryl Mitchell on 12.
The Test looked over at the start of day three when Australia resumed at 2-13 with a lead of 217 runs.
But inspired by a five-wicket haul from part-time spinner Glenn Phillips, New Zealand skittled for the Aussies for 164 to spark hopes of an almighty turnaround in Wellington.
“We have had three high-quality days but I tell you what, the best day is going to be tomorrow,” Haddin said on Fox Cricket.
“This Test match is in the balance. If Mitchell and Ravindra can do what Australia did on day two with the tail, all of a sudden this game is very, very alive.”
Haddin said Australia was still in the superior position, but Ravindra and Mitchell’s fight had given New Zealand hope.
“Australia will be very, very comfortable with where they stand. They’re still 258 runs in front. Seven wickets to get,” he said.
“And this surface is offering a lot still to both the fast bowlers and Nathan Lyon. I think Australia will be comfortable with where they are but New Zealand are in with a fighting chance.”
Nathan Lyon — who claimed the wickets of Kane Williamson and Tom Latham on day three — praised the efforts of Ravindra and Mitchell.
“I thought Rachin played exceptionally well that last session there and so did Daryl. I thought their plans were pretty clear,” he said.
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