Australian captain Pat Cummins has taken the crucial wicket of New Zealand opener Tom Latham early on day three of the Christchurch Test, getting the breakthrough after a review.
Latham’s inside edge ricocheted off his thigh guard towards wicketkeeper Alex Carey, with the Australians calling for a review after the on-field umpire shook his head. Replays showed there was a spike on Snicko, with Latham departing for 73.
However, rising star Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell combined for an unbeaten fifty-run partnership to frusrtate the Australian and put the hosts in dominant position.
New Zealand is 3-243 at lunch, leading by 149 runs.
MATCH CENTRE: New Zealand vs Australia second Test scorecard
Earlier in the match, Marnus Labuschagne responded after his lean run of form with a critical 90 that saw Australia finish with 256 runs in the first innings.
Speaking to reporters after Saturday’s action, Labuschagne said the confidence of his teammates helped him maintain his focus amid all the external noise.
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“Pressure? I mean obviously, to score runs for my team, yeah, absolutely,” Labuschagne said.
“I want to score runs. I want us to be winning games. I want us when we’re on top, to stay on top.
“If you asked me did I feel like I was going to lose my spot, I’d say no.
“That’s what the confidence of this team has done.
“The coaches, selectors, the captain, they’re very clear with trusting in the players and trusting that, yes, we do have the best six, seven batters in the country here.
“If you’re going through a rough patch, what we’ve been able (to do) over a period of time, everyone’s picking up each other’s slack when someone’s not doing well, someone else picks it up.”
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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