2nd Test: Tom Latham leads New Zealand fightback against Australia | Cricket News – Times of India
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One year after making his previous half-century against Sri Lanka at the same venue, Latham remained undefeated on 65 in New Zealand’s second innings at Hagley Oval in Christchurch after being dropped by Alex Carey on 59.
Latham and Kane Williamson put on a partnership of 105 for the second wicket after the early dismissal of Will Young for 1.
“We’re in the positives,” a relieved Williamson said, adding “there’s still plenty of hard work to do but the wicket is good.
“There’s a lot of time left in this game and from our perspective it’s about getting as many as we can.”
Williamson, playing in his 100th Test, reached his half-century with a single off Mitchell Starc, but faced only two more balls before he edged a Pat Cummins delivery onto his middle stump.
At stumps, New Zealand were 134/2 with Rachin Ravindra not out 11 alongside Latham.
Australia were all out midway through the day with Marnus Labuschagne‘s masterful 90 laying the foundation for their first innings 256 in reply to New Zealand’s 162.
“The intent from the first ball was to put the opposition under pressure. There was a nice pace in the wicket which was good for scoring,” Labuschagne said.
With the pitch becoming more benign than it was when 21 wickets fell in the first five sessions, Latham and Williamson produced a morale-boosting century stand for New Zealand, who had struggled against Australia’s intimidating attack.
Australia have also had their batting issues, but Labuschagne found some form after a string of single-digit performances to anchor their innings.
Their second-highest scorer was pacer Mitchell Starc with 28 and behind Cameron Green’s 25 was 23 from Pat Cummins.
Cummins’s innings included some big blows, including three fours and a six off successive deliveries from Ben Sears.
The chief destroyer for New Zealand was Matt Henry, relishing the responsibility of taking the new ball with Trent Boult out of the picture and being rewarded with 7-67. Henry has taken 15 wickets so far in the series.
Australia resumed the day at 124-4. Labuschagne had an early issue with the umpires for standing too far out of his crease and potentially scuffing the wicket in the spinners’ target area.
“It was just a matter of making sure I started far enough back,” he said.
“If they deemed it was damaging the pitch I can get docked penalty runs.”
As he neared his century, New Zealand keeper Tom Blundell stood up to the wickets for pace bowler Tim Southee, tempting Labuschagne to hit out.
The ploy worked, as the Australian steered the ball to gully, where Glenn Phillips made an acrobatic catch.
Henry bagged Nathan Lyon for 20, caught at first slip by Daryl Mitchell, who had dropped him off Tim Southee at the start of the day.
Mitchell Marsh, who is also having trouble scoring runs, faced just four balls before Henry trapped him leg before without allowing him to score for his second consecutive duck.
Alex Carey (14) was removed by part-time bowler Phillips when he paddled a straightforward catch to Tom Latham at mid-wicket, enabling Henry to mop up the tail.
(With AFP inputs)
