The almost comical run out of Kane Williamson for a second-ball duck was one of many setbacks suffered by New Zealand on the second day of the first Test on Friday as they fell 217 runs behind Australia.
Australia batted for a second time before stumps after refusing to enforce the follow on. Tim Southee dismissed Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to have Australia 13/2 in their second innings after the visitors led by 204 in the first innings.
Smith was out for a duck to the third ball of the innings and Labuschagne made 2.
New Zealand needed more than a full session to claim one wicket and end Australia’s first innings. Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood put on 116 runs as Australia ended on 383. Green finished 174 not out.
Then New Zealand lost three wickets at 12 and two more at 29, and were 29/5 before Glenn Phillips’ half-century from 41 balls slowed their steady slide. The hosts eventually were all out for 179 in 43.1 overs.
“Obviously the way Cam Green played with Hazlewood, they put on a massive partnership and that wasn’t exactly ideal for us wanting to wrap
up the tail,” Phillips said. “At the end that’s what Test cricket is about.”
In the home team’s innings, Tom Latham fell for 5 and then disaster struck. Williamson played a ball from Mitchell Starc back past the bowler. Will Young at the non-striker’s end turned to watch the ball, then looked up to see Williamson had set off for a run. Young turned to see the ball heading straight to mid off and looked again to see Williamson bearing down on him on a collision course.
As Young swerved to his left, Williamson dodged to his right and the pair collided
mid-pitch as Starc tried to take evasive action. Williamson was stranded as Marnus Labuschagne’s throw hit the stumps directly at the non-striker’s end.
