A very insane scene on the second day encapsulated New Zealand's awful start at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday. After lunch, a horrific run-out resulted in a duck, leaving former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in ruins. The hosts were five down for just 29 runs, chasing Australia's impressive first-innings score of 383.
Cameron Green, the new No. 4 for Australia, and tailender Josh Hazelwood stitched together a record tenth-wicket stand of 116 runs en route to an epic knock of 174 not out. This partnership is the second-highest outside of home (Ashton Agar and Phillip Hughes - 163 vs England, July 2013) and the fourth-highest for Australia in men's Test history.
Things went from bad to worse for New Zealand when they lost their top five for just 29 runs in 17.1 overs, chasing 393, after criticism of their bowling approach on the second morning of the first Test and their inability to remove Hazlewood during Australia's ten-wicket partnership.
Mitchell Marsh delivered a magnificent delivery that left opener Tom Latham speechless. Williamson arrived next, hoping to ease New Zealand out of its early shock. With seven hundred in the previous seven games, the star hitter has been in incredible form and has risen to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings.
Williamson hit a single when he pushed Starc's longer delivery in the direction of mid-off with his second ball. Will Young, his partner, was focused and cautiously answered the phone. He dashed off in the direction of the other end, but he ran into Williamson. Williamson was left in shock as Marnus Labuschagne castled down the stumps after collecting the ball in the interim.
Williamson was run out for the first time since 2012 as a result of New Zealand losing two wickets in an over. Former Australian cricket player Brendon Julian commented, 'It's unbelievable. How could it happen? Misfortune prevails in the midst.'
Craig McMillan, a former batter for New Zealand, continued, saying, It's unbelievable what I just seen. It truly is a catastrophe for New Zealand.
After Hazlewood's heroic effort, he bowled out Rachin Ravindra for a three-ball duck. Mitchell Marsh and skipper Pat Cummins then each took one wicket to leave New Zealand struggling at 29 for five in the second session of Day 2.
Ultimately, New Zealand was folded for a total of 179 runs. Had Glenn Phillips not mounted a counterattacking innings of 71 off 70 balls after tea, the total for the hosts may have been even higher. Nonetheless, Nathan Lyon's outstanding 4/43 spell allowed Australia to take a 205-run advantage.
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