Marnus Labuschagne has fallen agonisingly short of a 12th Test century as Australia was bowled out for 256 on day two of the Christchurch Test against New Zealand.
Black Caps seamer Matt Henry claimed 7-67, his third five-wicket haul in Tests, as Australia secured a 94-run lead in the first innings at Hagley Oval. It the second-best bowling figures by a New Zealander against Australia in Test history, eclipsed only by the legendary Richard Hadlee’s 9-52 at the Gabba in 1985.
Labuschgane top-scored for the Australians with a defiant 90, his highest Test score in 15 knocks, with Glenn Phillips snatching a horizontal screamer at gully to deny the Queenslander a century.
In response, New Zealand is 1-6.
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Resuming day two at 4-124, Australian nightwatcher Nathan Lyon was handed an early reprieve on 1 when Daryl Mitchell dropped a catch at first slip off captain Tim Southee’s bowling. The missed chance proved costly, with Lyon and Labuschagne combining for an annoying 51-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Mitchell redeemed himself in the 43rd over, swallowing a regulation catch at first slip send Lyon packing for 20. A few minutes later, Henry secured his five-wicket haul by trapping Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh on the pads for a fourth-ball duck, with New Zealand successfully overturning the on-field decision on review.
Black Caps spinner Glenn Phillips was introduced to the attack in the 52nd over and immediately broke through, with Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey toe-ending a sweep shot towards mid-wicket for 14.
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As carnage unfolded at the other end, Labuschagne crawled towards the nineties, only for a moment of magic from Phillips in the field to end his 147-ball stay at the crease. The right-hander flashed at a wide delivery from Southee, with Phillips lunging to his right and holding onto a one-handed stunner to send the Christchurch crowd into a frenzy.
Mitchell Starc (28) and Pat Cummins (23) provided some handy runs after the lunch break, but Henry cleaned up the tail to give New Zealand a slim chance of avoiding a series whitewash.
Starc created an early breakthrough for the Australians during his second over, with Black Caps opener Will Young feathering the Kookaburra through to Carey for 1.
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Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand XI: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Scott Kuggeleijn, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (c), Ben Sears
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