Tim Southee puts down a tough chance in followthrough

Nathan Lyon spun Australia to victory in the first Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Australia won the Test by 172 runs in a contest likely to be remembered for Cameron Green’s dazzling 174 in the first innings, a watershed moment as the youngster looks to cement his place at No 4. Green was the only man capable of a century in the series opener, where the Nathan Lyon-led Australian attack beat New Zealand down to size.

Fittingly, given their heroic performances during the Wellington Test, Green, Lyon and Josh Hazlewood claimed the final wickets as Australia’s stranglehold over New Zealand continued. They have beaten Australia in Test matches just once since 1993.

New Zealand needed to rewrite the record books if they were to take the honors in this two-Test series with their highest successful fourth-innings run chase being 324 against Pakistan at Christchurch in 1994. The hosts fought hard on the third day and even flirted with the possibility of an impressive come-from-behind win but eventually the turn and bounce accorded by the pitch at the Basin Reserve was enough for Lyon to turn the game in his team’s favour.

Australia's Cameron Green brings up his 7th Test Match half-century at a critical time for the Aussie side @BLACKCAPS v Australia: 1st Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/ZSdlScuBmc

— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) February 29, 2024