1st Test: Lyon, Green power Australia to triumph over NZ
Australia have thrashed hosts New Zealand by 172 runs in the opening Test in Wellington to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. While Cameron Green stood out with a magnificent 174* with the bat in the first innings, Nathan Lyon claimed 10 wickets in the game. For New Zealand, Glenn Phillips's all-round efforts went in vain. Here are the key stats.
How did the game pan out?
Green's unbeaten 174 helped Australia post 383 while batting first. Matt Henry claimed five wickets. In reply, Lyon's four-fer meant NZ were folded for 179. Phillips made 71. Phillips claimed his maiden Test fifer as Australia managed 164 in their second outing. Chasing 369 for victory, the Kiwis were folded for 196. Lyon took six wickets. Rachin Ravindra's 59 went in vain.
Career-best score for Green
Green made an unbeaten on 174 off 275 balls in the first innings. He contributed with 34 runs in his second outing. The young all-rounder has raced to 1,347 Test runs at an average of 36.8. This was his second Test ton as he also owns six fifties. Green's career-best 174* is now the second-highest unbeaten score by an Australian batter in New Zealand.
Highest 10th-wicket partnership against New Zealand
Green and Josh Hazlewood added 116 runs for the 10th wicket in the first innings. This is now the highest last-wicket stand against NZ in Tests. They went past compatriots Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath, who added 114 runs in the 2004 Brisbane Test. Green and Hazlewood also recorded the fourth-highest 10th-wicket partnership for Australia in the longest format.
Fifer for Henry
Matt Henry was the pick of the NZ bowlers in the first innings as he claimed 5/70. He took three more wickets in his second outing (3/36). He claimed his second Test fifer. The pacer has now raced to 86 Test wickets at 33.93. He now boasts 12 Test scalps against Australia at 45.50. Henry also completed 450 First-Class wickets (now 451).
Third Test fifty for Phillips
NZ's first-innings total would have been even lower had Phillips contributed with a 70-ball 71 (13 fours). This was Phillips's third Test fifty as he has raced to 348 runs at 38.66. Meanwhile, this was his second half-century against the Aussies as he now owns 124 runs against them at 31. The dasher has raced to 3,591 First-Class runs, averaging 41.75.
Lyon goes past Walsh
Lyon was the pick of the Australian bowlers in both innings as he claimed 4/43 and 6/65. Having raced to 527 Test wickets at 30.35, Lyon displaced WI legend Courtney Walsh (519) as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Tests. The former now owns 24 Test fifers. Against NZ, he has raced to 60 Test scalps at 18.90 (5W: 3).
Maiden fifer for Phillips
Phillips bowled exceedingly well in the third innings and returned with 5/45 in 16 overs. This was his maiden Test fifer as he has raced to 16 wickets across six Tests at a stellar average of 16. This was also his maiden FC fifer as he now owns 56 wickets, averaging around 36. Notably, he did not bowl in Australia's first innings.
Lyon accomplishes this feat
Nightwatchman Lyon scored 41 off 46 balls in Australia's second outing. En route, he became the first batter to complete 1,500 Test runs without hitting a fifty. With this knock, Lyon has raced to 1,501 runs across 128 Tests at 12.72. His highest score reads 47. Versus NZ, he now owns 150 runs at 16.66. Lyon also raced past 2,500 (2,540) First-Class runs.
1,500 runs for Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell could not do much in the game as he managed scores worth 11 and 38. During the course, however, he raced past 1,500 Test runs. Mitchell has now raced to 1,546 runs in 22 Tests with the help of five tons and nine fifties. His average of 51.53 is the second-highest among Kiwi batters with 1,000 or more runs in Tests.