Left Arm Around

Glenn Phillips takes five but Australia remain in the box seat after day three of the first Test in Wellington.

Having dismissed the tourists for 164, New Zealand set about their mammoth chase of 369.

Tom Latham was first to depart after edging a short and wide delivery from Nathan Lyon, before Kane Williamson was sent packing for just 9 when he turned Lyon round the corner and was snaffled by Steve Smith at leg-slip.

The introduction of part-timer Travis Head was also a genius one as he removed Will Young with his third ball, Steve Smith taking a stunning reflex catch at first slip.

But after three early wickets, Daryl Mitchell (12*) and the impressive Rachin Ravindra (56*) safely negotiated them to 111-3 at the close.

“You’ve got to give credit where credit is due. I thought Rachin played exceptionally well, that last session there. And so did Daryl,” said Nathan Lyon.

Earlier, Australia began brightly as nightwatchman Lyon peppered the boundary with regularity.

Matt Henry prized his wicket for 41 to deny Lyon a first Test 50, while Usman Khawaja was smartly stumped to gift Phillips his first scalp.

Travis Head demonstrated glimpses of a return to form in a stand of 46 with first innings hero Cameron Green, but his vigil was ended after Scott Kuggeleijn took a comfortable catch on the long-off boundary.

Mitchell Marsh departed next ball to leave Australia 127-6- Will Young taking a fine catch at short-leg.

The brilliant Phillips later removed Green and Alex Carey to complete a deserved first Test ‘fifer’, before Matt Henry mopped up the final two wickets to end the innings.

A superb bowling effort from the Black Caps gives them a sniff, but the magnitude of the total and the quality of Australia’s attack means the hosts are well up against it.

That being said, stranger things have happened.

It was on this very ground, in February 2023, that New Zealand defeated England by one run after being forced to follow-on…