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Nathan Lyon became the player with the most Tests without scoring a half-century.©AFP
Australian veteran Nathan Lyon achieved a unique batting record during the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, becoming the first player to score 1,500 Test runs without scoring a half-century. During the second day of the match, Lyon came out as a night watchman after the dismissals of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne and scored 41 off 46 balls, with six fours. He scored the runs of him at a strike rate of over 89. Now, in 128 Tests and 162 innings, Lyon has made 1,501 runs at an average of 12.72. His best score is 47.
Coming into the match, Australia set a target of 369 runs to win for New Zealand.
In their second innings, Australia took a lead of 368 runs and were bowled out for 164. Apart from Lyon who was surprisingly the top scorer with 41 runs, Cameron Green (34), Travis Head (29) and Usman Khawaja (28) scored Decent scores.
Glenn Phillips (5/45) was the pick of the Kiwis bowlers. Matt Henry (3/36) and Tim Southee (2/46) were also among the wickets.
Earlier, Australia had a first innings lead of 204 runs, bowling the Kiwis out for 179 in their first innings. The Kiwis were struggling at 29/5 at one point, but a fighting effort from the middle/lower order, Phillips (71 off 70 balls, with 13 fours), Matt Henry (42 off 34 balls, with three fours and four sixes) and wicketkeeper batsman Tom Blundell (33 off 43 balls, with three fours) helped the Kiwis put up a fight against the Australians.
Lyon (4/43) was the pick of the bowlers for the Australians. Josh Hazlewood took two wickets, while captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc picked up one wicket each.
Put to bat first after the Kiwis won the toss, Australia once faltered at 211/7, but a fantastic knock from all-rounder Cameron Green (174* in 275 balls, with 23 fours and five fours) and his 10th of 116 careers. The wicket partnership with Josh Hazlewood (22) helped Australia score 383.
Henry (5/70) recorded a five-wicket haul for the Kiwis. William O’Rourke and Scott Kuggeleijn also took two wickets for the Kiwis.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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