Table of Contents
Australia’s dominance in the first Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington was exemplified by their emphatic victory, clinching the match by 172 runs. Spearheaded by standout performances from Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon, Australia secured their sixth consecutive Test victory in New Zealand.
Nathan Lyon’s heroics
The turning point of the match came on the fourth morning when Lyon spun a web around the New Zealand batting lineup, claiming six wickets for just 65 runs in the innings. Lyon’s mesmerizing spell, which included four crucial wickets, played a pivotal role in dismantling the Black Caps’ batting order.
Historical milestones
With this win, Australia extended their winning streak in New Zealand, joining the ranks of historic Test cricket performances. Only England, with their eight consecutive Test victories in South Africa from 1889 to 1899, and New Zealand’s seven consecutive wins in Zimbabwe from 2000 to 2016, are above Australia’s remarkable achievement.
Trans-Tasman Trophy retained
Furthermore, Australia’s triumph ensured the retention of the Trans-Tasman Trophy for the 12th consecutive series, maintaining their stronghold on the coveted trophy since their series win at home in 1993-94. New Zealand last held the Trans-Tasman Trophy in the 1992-93 season.
Also READ: Twitter reactions – Nathan Lyon spins Australia to dominant victory over New Zealand in Wellington Test
Lyon enters record books
Lyon’s exceptional performance not only secured victory for Australia but also etched his name in the annals of cricketing history. New Zealand became the ninth country where Lyon claimed a five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He joined the ranks of legends such as Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne to have a 5-fer in nine different host countries.
Historic feat
His remarkable 10-wicket haul in the match marked the first instance of a spin bowler taking 10-plus wickets in a Test match in New Zealand since 2006, a feat previously achieved by Daniel Vettori and Muralitharan.
Best bowling figures
Lyon’s bowling figures of 6/65 in the fourth innings set a new benchmark for Australian bowlers in men’s Tests on New Zealand soil, surpassing Dennis Lillee‘s previous record of 6/72 in the 1977 Auckland Test.
