2024-03-01 10:17:22
There was already an idea of what New Zealand’s wicket could look like. Australia also probably came prepared. But no one could stand in front of Kiwi pacers except one Cameron Green. Pat Cummins’ team ended the first day with 279 runs for 9 wickets in the first innings of the Wellington Test with Green’s unbeaten century.
Tim Southee won the toss and bowled after seeing the weather in Wellington on Thursday morning (February 29). But the Kiwi captain had to be disappointed in the beginning. Two openers Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja gave the team a good start.
Matt Henry hit the pair before lunch. The partnership of 61 runs was broken when Smith got out. The experienced batsman made 31 off 71 balls in the first innings of the opener outside the country. Australia lost Marnus Labuchen after lunch. He returned with 1 run off 27 balls.
After that Green paired with Khawaja. However, this pair did not last long. Khawaja, who scored 33 runs off 118 balls, was bowled. Travis Head departed as soon as he came to the crease. Australia is in danger after losing four wickets in just 28 runs.
Mitchell Marsh and Green rescued the team from there. They got the only half-hundred runs of the innings with the bat of these two. On the one hand, Marsh continued to play aggressively, on the other hand, Green continued to play slowly.
Henry struck just when Australia were dreaming of big things with Marsh-Green’s bat. Marsh returned to 40 runs off 39 balls. The pair stopped at 67 runs off 77 balls. The rest of the innings was just Green’s story. Green picked up a fifty in a small partnership with Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins.
After understanding the situation, he increased the speed of the run. Reached from fifty to hundred in just 46 balls. Despite regular wickets at the other end, he never lost focus. At the end of the day, Lion was out, but after completing his century, Green left the field with Josh Hazlewood safely at the end of the day.
Green is unbeaten on 103 off 155 balls at the end of the day. This is his second century in his 27-match Test career. The 24-year-old batsman will go into bat with Hazelwood on the second morning.
Summary Score:
Australia 1st Innings: 279/9 in 85 overs (Green 103*, Marsh 40, Khawaja 33; Henry 20-7-43-4, O’Roque 20-8-59-2, Kugelin 17-1-56-2)