Australia vs New Zealand Second Test: Kiwis in control after dominant display

Australia fancied their chances entering the second innings, but New Zealand ripped their hearts out in a devastating seven-over spell.

Australia entered the third day of play on a high after an early wicket, but it was New Zealand’s day in Christchurch.

The Kiwis took the fight to the Aussies in brutal fashion as they kept the scoreboard ticking over.

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Rachin Ravindra (80) and Daryl Mitchell (58) put the locals in a dominant position before Scott Kuggeleijn (44) added further misery in the lower order.

Set a commanding 279 runs to try and secure the second Test victory and end the series 2-0, the Aussies fell into serious trouble and the Kiwis put their foot on the throat.

Four wickets in the space of seven overs gave New Zealand the upper hand as the Aussie top order fell apart in horror fashion.

Travis Head (17*) and Mitch Marsh (27*) steadied the ship late in the day for the Aussies but they have a mountain to climb if they’re to secure the Test victory with 202 runs still required.

Recap the action from the third day of play below.

3.45pm - This is really ugly now for the Aussies

Ben Sears has his second wicket with Cameron Green caught on the crease and chopping one on to his stumps.

The ball came on to Green quicker and left him in no mans land as his bat sat just off his body before the ball caught the inside edge and went onto the stumps.

With the top order now back in the sheds the Kiwis are edging closer to victory which will end the series tied up at 1-1.

Ben Sears is pumped! #NZvAUSpic.twitter.com/mXqFchGHeu

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 10, 2024

3.30pm - Southee takes a screamer

Tim Southee has taken an absolute belter of a catch at third slip to send Usman Khawaja on his way.

Matt Henry gets this third wicket and the Kiwis are now comfortably on top in this Test with the Aussie batting line-up completely falling apart.

3.15pm - Australia in all sorts of trouble

The run chase is off to a nightmare start with Marnus Labuschagne joining Steve Smith back in the sheds.

Labuschagne chased a delivery going down the leg side off of Ben Sears and got a leading edge on the ball.

Sears hauled in the ball to give the Kiwis the dominant position in the second Test.

3.05pm - Smith’s LBW horrorshow adds new chapter

Steve Smith’s horror run has continued after he was knocked over by Matt Henry in eerily similar fashion to his first innings dismissal.

The Aussie opener wandered across his stumps only to be beaten by a delivery that thundered into his pads.

He did this time however at least offer up a shot. But it mattered little as the umpire’s finger went up quickly.

Smith spoke with fellow opener Usman Khawaja for a long period before half-heartedly sending it upstairs for review.

The DRS showed the ball would have slammed into middle and leg stump ending Smith’s innings and raising further concerns over the opening role for the Aussies.

His decision to burn a review didn’t sit well with those watching on.

AAP’s Oliver Caffrey wrote: “Steve Smith making a compelling case to be as bad a reviewer as Shane Watson.”

The Age’s Andrew Wu wrote: “In his prime, Steve Smith’s eye was so good he hardly missed balls that are now getting him out lbw. It allowed him to shuffle across crease, almost daring bowlers to attack pads, backing himself to score. Fascinating to see what, if any, technical tweaks he now makes.”

Steve Smith's series: 51 runs at 12.75.

— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) March 10, 2024

2.30pm - New Zealand innings comes to an end

Nathan Lyon secured the final wicket to bring New Zealand’s second innings to an end. Scott Kuggeleijn continued his aggressive approach but ultimately came unstuck.

The locals scored a dangerous 372 runs to set the Aussies 279 runs if they want to secure the Test match victory and wrap up the series 2-0.

Through three innings against the Kiwis, the Aussies have only scored over 260 runs once.

2.20pm - Lyon feasting on the Kiwi tail

Nathan Lyon has captured two quick wickets after the tea break as the off-spinner attempts to bring an end to the New Zealand second innings.

Lyon clean bowled Glenn Phillips before Matt Henry attempted to put one over the fence only to fall short and be caught by Josh Hazlewood just inside the rope.

Pat Cummins then sent Kiwi skipper Tim Southee on his way after a searing bouncer caught him on the gloves and fell softly into the hands of Alex Carey who claimed his tenth catch of the match.

1.30pm - Kuggeleijn survives on stroke of tea

Scott Kuggeleijn didn’t blink an eye after he was given out, sending the decision instantly upstairs for review.

Kuggeleijn swung wildly at a Mitchell Starc bouncer that ended in the gloves of Alex Carey as the Aussies went up believing it had clipped the bat on the way through.

The umpire’s finger went up in a flash as Kuggeleijn responded by calling for the review. The Kiwi was bang on the money as ultra edge showed no noise.

Starc has struggled with his accuracy and the runs have been flowing off of his bowling.

12.50pm - Green strikes off nightmare ball

Cameron Green was thrown into the bowling attack and claimed a wicket with his first delivery after a brilliant take from Marnus Labuschagne.

The ball from Green was very wide on the wicket and enticed Tom Blundell into a flashing cut that was hauled in by Labuschagne.

As Blundell began to make his way from the crease the catch was sent up for review to ensure Labuschagne hadn’t used the grass to complete the catch.

After a lengthy review the catch was upheld and the Aussies secured their sixth wicket. Green however was left with his head in his hands, not able to believe he’d snared a wicket after such a horrid delivery.

Cameron Green cannot believe he's taken a wicket with that.

One of the worst balls bowled all day and Tom Blundell hits it to cover.

NZ have lost 3-18 since lunch #NZvAUSpic.twitter.com/arfOyokk4q

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 10, 2024

That's filthy from Blundell

— Matt Nicholls (@matt__nicholls) March 10, 2024

12.35pm - Aussies wrestle back the control

And just like that the Test match has swung back slightly in the favour of the Aussies. Pat Cummins followed in Josh Hazlewood’s footsteps by snaring a huge wicket.

The Aussie skipper got the better of Rachin Ravindra to send the Kiwi star on his way after an impressive 82 run innings.

With five wickets still in hand the locals have a lead just shy of 200 runs.

12.20pm - Hazlewood delivers with major strike

Daryl Mitchell was sending Josh Hazlewood to all parts of the ground, but in the end it was the Aussie quick who won the war.

After back to back boundaries, Hazlewood squared Mitchell up and got a delivery to just move away from the right hander with a faint edge ending up in the gloves of Alex Carey.

The much needed wicket brought to an end a 123 run stand between Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra.

11.05am - Lunch on day three

The Test is sitting on a knifes edge after New Zealand fought back during the opening session on the third day.

Ravindra and Mitchell have kept the batting momentum going with an 88-run stand to give the locals a lead of 149 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Pat Cummins and his bowling attack now find themselves with their backs up against the wall and in need of wickets.

10.25am - Kiwis turning the momentum of the contest

Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell have grabbed this Test match with both hands and are putting the Kiwis into a solid position to level the series up at 1-1.

The duo have combined for a fifty run partnership and have pushed the lead to 114 runs with seven wickets in hand.

9.45am - Sheer genius review snares danger man

Pat Cummins owes Alex Carey a beer or two after the keeper called for a review when many of his teammates weren’t on board.

Cummins dismissed danger man Tom Latham for 73 with a ball that nipped back into Latham and took a fine inside edge and a piece of his thigh pad on its way through to Carey.

“Geez, that is a big wicket for the Australians, because the partnership was really starting to look good,” former Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian said on Fox Cricket.

He went on to say: “Wow. That’s a cracking review.”

Tom Latham definitely got a piece of it. Photo: Fox Cricket.

8am — Cricket blown away by catch

Glenn Phillips oh my goodness.

Marnus Labuschagne had shut down the critics with a stunning innings, but it came to an end in spectacular fashion.

A cut shot off the bowling of Tim Southee flew away towards gully where Phillips pounced like a jungle cat.

Diving at full stretch away to his right, Phillips threw his right hand out and hauled in the out of this world catch.

“That is a beauty for the Black Caps,” one commentator said.

Steve Smith (the journalist, not the cricketer) on X wrote: “My goodness what a catch, as good as it ever gets.”