New Zealand v Australia: second Test, day two – as it happened

Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra survive until stumps and New Zealand can now look to build on a 40-run lead with eight wickets in hand when they return for day three.

The Black Caps did well to restrict Australia to 256 with only Marnus Labushagne (90) passing 28, even if it took an all-time classic catch from Glenn Phillips to dismiss the previously under-fire batter.

Mitchell Starc (28) and Pat Cummins (23) added valuable runs to ensure Australia held a 96-run lead after an innings each, while Matt Henry can bask in taking 7/67 as the Black Caps’ other pacers found the going tough.

Latham (65*) and Kane Williamson (51) erased New Zealand’s deficit still with nine wickets in hand, as the opener reached his highest score against Australia and left the match evenly poised.

Be sure to return tomorrow as we follow every over from Christchurch.

50th over: New Zealand 134-2 (Latham 65, Ravindra 11)

49th over: New Zealand 129-2 (Latham 64, Ravindra 7) Latham guides the ball behind the wicket for a couple of runs that also takes the opener to his highest score against Australia. The visitors would love one more before stumps and Marnus Labuschagne is full of voice, making sure Ravindra knows the pressure is about to come his way.

48th over: New Zealand 127-2 (Latham 62, Ravindra 7) Latham will likely need to make Australia pay with his second chance if New Zealand are to build a strong lead, and he starts with a clever push behind gully that earns three runs. But Latham might even want to farm the strike until stumps as Ravindra again looks scratchy against Starc. A full ball on the pads relieves the pressure as Ravindra picks up two to end the over.

47th over: New Zealand 121-2 (Latham 59, Ravindra 4) DROP! Tom Latham has played a flawless knock but can’t deal with a cracker from Hazlewood as the ball finds an edge. Carey dives across Khawaja at first slip, gets a glove to the ball but grasses a gilt-edge opportunity. The ball was dropping quickly but looked like it probably would’ve reached Khawaja until the keeper intervened.

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46th over: New Zealand 120-2 (Latham 59, Ravindra 4) Starc’s turn to trouble Ravindra, beating the bat with two consecutive balls after leaving him in two minds with one tracking outside off. Ravindra finds a single off the pads but will be back in the firing line while facing up to Cummins. Stumps is little more than 15 minutes away as Australia look to finish on a high while New Zealand seem happy to call it a day.

45th over: New Zealand 118-2 (Latham 58, Ravindra 3) No relief for Ravindra after Latham picks up an early single and Cummins continues to charge in with a spring in his step. Ravindra plays and misses at a couple, and there is a strong shout for lbw when a ball the batter might have tucked away for easy runs instead cannons into his pads. Fortunately for Ravindra, it was heading down leg and Australia choose not to review.

44th over: New Zealand 117-2 (Latham 57, Ravindra 3) Hazlewood is back into the attack as Australia look to turn the screw. The pacer is immediately onto a testing line and length to Ravindra. The young gun looks determined to make it through to stumps rather than worrying too much about troubling the scorers before then. Maiden.

43rd over: New Zealand 117-2 (Latham 57, Ravindra 3) Cummins works on Latham again but the New Zealand batter is up to the challenge. Latham pulls one from outside off to mid-wicket for two, then Cummins responds next up with a straight one that moves away just too much to find an edge.

42nd over: New Zealand 114-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 3) Ravindra is getting his eye in as he defends Marsh throughout. Third umpire spots a no-ball to add to the score.

41st over: New Zealand 114-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 3) Cummins has answered the call (his own call?) and is now doing his thing, locking the opposition batters down as Latham looks to keep a straight bat. Maiden.

And thanks to Abhinav Dutta for reminding us that “[Ross] Taylor and Williamson plundered 265 in Perth circa 2015”, quashing the vicious rumours that Latham and Williamson had combined for the first New Zealand century partnership against Australia in more than 25 years. Let’s put that error down to the dreaded commentators’ curse, with Black Caps 100-run stands on home turf notably rarer (as are the number of Trans-Tasman Tests played there).

40th over: New Zealand 114-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 3) Marsh tests out Ravindra with a short ball then really shakes up the youngster with one that nips back and barely misses the top of off as the batter lets it fly through. Ravindra grabs two off the last, using the pace to guide the ball through point.

39th over: New Zealand 112-2 (Latham 55, Ravindra 1) A cracking over from Cummins and just like that it feels like Australia are back in command. It started with the wicket of Williamson, but the Australia skipper troubled Latham as well. A bouncer had the left-hander ducking abruptly, and a seaming delivery for the last ball narrowly beat the outside edge. Once again, Cummins has lit a spark just when Australia needed it.

Cummins brings himself back on and immediately gets the breakthrough as Williamson drags the ball back onto his stumps. Williamson attempts to drive at a delivery that pitched back of a length, but gets a slight inside edge that is enough for the ball to crash into middle and off. The first loose shot from Williamson in a long while, perhaps even since tea, but he’s on his way.

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38th over: New Zealand 111-1 (Latham 55, Williamson 51) Mitch Marsh takes his turn as Australia search for a way to break up this pivotal partnership. Williamson finds a run to fine leg, then Latham adds two with a textbook cover drive.

37th over: New Zealand 108-1 (Latham 53, Williamson 50) As the milestones drop, Latham and Williamson have reached a 100-run partnership – the first for New Zealand against Australia since… 1997.

After a fast start the former New Zealand skipper has edged to a half-century while his batting partner has led the way since tea. Williamson reaches 50 with a quick single, hitting the mark from 105 balls. The last time Williamson was dismissed between 50 and 100 in a Test was way back in February 2020, when he fell for 89 against India. A frankly incredible 11 Test tons since then!

The New Zealand opener is looking in fine touch as he reaches 50 for the 41st time in 80 Tests. But Latham will now be out to make the most of his start and notch a first-ever Test century against Australia.

36th over: New Zealand 105-1 (Latham 52, Williamson 48)

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35th over: New Zealand 100-1 (Latham 48, Williamson 47) New Zealand reach 100 and can now set out to build a defendable lead. Six runs is the advantage at drinks but Latham and Williamson are settled and even lifted the tempo in the handful of overs before the break. Cummins is keen to swing the changes as Australia try to find a way to break up this partnership, but with the experienced duo still at the crease the match suddenly feels evenly-poised.

34th over: New Zealand 95-1 (Latham 48, Williamson 42) New Zealand take the lead – by one run – as Latham smacks a pull shot to the boundary. This partnership has reached 89 runs to become the Black Caps’ highest stand in the series. Latham has also overtaken Williamson for the first time since the ninth over, after the left-hander has put the foot down with 33 runs since tea to his partner’s 17.

33rd over: New Zealand 87-1 (Latham 41, Williamson 41) Little surprise that Starc is brought back into the attack as Australia search for a breakthrough before New Zealand wipe out the rest of their first innings lead. There is no margin for error now though, as Latham and Williamson are in fine touch and combine for three singles from anything that is over-pitched or drifting onto their pads.

32nd over: New Zealand 84-1 (Latham 39, Williamson 40) Latham deals with an over-pitched teaser from Green, rightfully dispatching it through mid-off to the boundary. The next ball is pulled away for two and Latham then adds another past point. Williamson gets in on the action in a costly over from Green, rising onto his back foot to drive through gully for four. New Zealand have suddenly lifted the tempo and, dare we say it, are at least nudging Australia towards the ropes here.

31st over: New Zealand 73-1 (Latham 32, Williamson 36) Latham shows Hazlewood the full face of the blade with a powerful cover drive that is stopped just short of the rope for three. The Australian quick immediately responds, getting one to jag away from Williamson as the Kiwi looks to defend on the front foot. Williamson finishes with a pair of twos, the first through mid-wicket, the next with a trademark cover drive. That over has lit a spark!

30th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Latham 29, Williamson 31) Green takes the cherry from Lyon to bowl into the breeze and is straight around the wicket to Latham. A few workhorse overs of short-pitched bowling might be on the cards for Green, but he’s happy to pitch it up as Latham only plays when forced to. A bouncer finally lands with the last delivery and Latham is untroubled. That’s three maidens in a row.

29th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Latham 29, Williamson 31) Williamson has been the more patient of the Black Caps batters since tea and is again here as Hazlewood bowls a maiden.

28th over: New Zealand 65-1 (Latham 29, Williamson 31) Latham in control now whether Lyon pitches up or back of a length. The opener reaches the boundary off a shorter ball, staying in his crease and punching past cover.

Hard agree on Morto’ call via email: “PM Dawn’s cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “You’ve Got Me Floatin’” is their best work”:

27th over: New Zealand 61-1 (Latham 25, Williamson 31) Williamson with another sweetly-timed drive but is only rewarded with a single as Cummins, now back on the field, cuts it off at mid-on. Latham adds another when easing a short ball to deep square leg.

26th over: New Zealand 59-1 (Latham 24, Williamson 30) Lyon to Latham and the off-spinner gets the ball to drift, grip and cannon off the pitch, all in the one delivery as Latham leans forward to defend but misses. Maiden.

Might just be me but all this talk of “drift” has found this PM Dawn classic somewhere in the memory bank (warning: may or may not contain cuss words):

25th over: New Zealand 59-1 (Latham 24, Williamson 30) Hazlewood into the attack with Cummins leaving the field. Latham punches a single through the off-side. Feels like a shock comment to make this summer, but Australia are letting the game drift along at the moment.

24th over: New Zealand 58-1 (Latham 23, Williamson 30) Latham isn’t afraid to step out of his crease to Lyon, first to defend and then to pick up a single towards mid-wicket. Williamson is happier to play Lyon from his crease for now.

23rd over: New Zealand 57-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 30) Cummins and Williamson renew their battle and the Australian quick mixes up his length with a bouncer. Another short ball follows but this time Williamson pulls without quite keeping the ball down. A nervy moment for Williamson as the ball sails high to long-leg, until it falls safely for a couple of runs. Fifty partnership up for Latham-Williamson, but still with plenty of work to do as Australia lead by 37 runs.

22nd over: New Zealand 55-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 28) Latham and Williamson untroubled even as Lyon finds his range outside off whether bowling to the left- or right-hander. Williamson starts the over with a single to long-on.

21st over: New Zealand 54-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 27) Cummins again, this time with the neatest over since the break. Six balls, all targeted outside off, varied length. Williamson picks up a quick single with soft hands and a tap towards cover. Enthralling battle brewing here.

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20th over: New Zealand 53-1 (Latham 22, Williamson 26) SHOT! Latham punishes a short ball through cover all the way to the rope, then sees off the rest of the over comfortably. Even with Lyon in the attack, rather than pacers from both ends, Latham and Williamson have certainly picked up where they left off before tea with a composed re-start.

19th over: New Zealand 49-1 (Latham 18, Williamson 26) Captain Cummins starts from the other end, Williamson rocking back to pull a ball just back of a length past square for one. Cummins goes around the wicket again to Latham who works a single off a fuller delivery.

18th over: New Zealand 47-1 (Latham 17, Williamson 25) Nathan Lyon perhaps a surprise choice to bowl the first over after tea. But the off-spinner quickly reminds us why Cummins turns to him at a time of need with four balls right on the spot. Latham steps down the pitch for a glorious shot through mid-wicket for four.

Latham and Williamson see New Zealand through to the break after reducing Australia’s first innings lead to 51.

Their 37-run partnership caps off a promising session for the Black Caps after they wrapped up the visitor’s innings at 256 and made a steady start to the chase.

Starc made the early breakthrough as Will Young nicked one to Alex Carey for one, but Latham and Williamson picked up the chase with the former skipper looking especially solid in his 100th Test.

Now for a quick break and time to watch Glenn Phillips’ latest screamer on repeat.

17th over: New Zealand 43-1 (Latham 13, Williamson 25)

16th over: New Zealand 42-1 (Latham 12, Williamson 25) Green to Williamson and the Black Caps batter makes the most of the only loose delivery of the over, easing the ball through – you guessed it – cover as tidy fielding from Labuschagne limits the damage to two.

15th over: New Zealand 40-1 (Latham 12, Williamson 23) Latham has tea on his mind as Cummins comes around the wicket. Anything outside off is allowed to pass by, but Latham is noticeably disappointed not to get bat and ball as a rare wayward delivery from Cummins drifts down leg. Maiden.

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14th over: New Zealand 40-1 (Latham 12, Williamson 23) Cameron Green is thrown the ball as Australia search for a breakthrough on the brink of tea. The all-rounder starts around the wicket to the leftie Latham, cramping him up with the ball angled in. The Black Caps opener misses a couple of opportunities make the angle of the ball work for him, but eventually knocks the last delivery to the on-side.

13th over: New Zealand 39-1 (Latham 11, Williamson 23) Cummins is working away in his favourite channel outside off. Williamson and Latham each find a single around cover, but the Australia skipper gives them no room to even consider doing anything else.

12th over: New Zealand 37-1 (Latham 10, Williamson 22) Hazlewood continues to Latham and the Black Caps batter remains watchful, perhaps waiting to see off the Australia pacer. A no-ball for overstepping the only score in an otherwise tidy over.

11th over: New Zealand 36-1 (Latham 10, Williamson 22) Pat Cummins brings himself into the attack as the experienced Kiwi pair start to look comfortable. Latham is immediately off strike with a leg-glance, while Williamson brings out a stunning cover drive for four. Another boundary off the last ball of the over as Williamson guides it - intentionally or otherwise - between the slips cordon and gully.

Hard to argue with Ric here:

10th over: New Zealand 27-1 (Latham 9, Williamson 14) Big appeal as Hazlewood gets a straight one to nip in and rap Williamson on the back pad. Hazlewood is half-keen for another look but Cummins needs to be convinced with height the concern. Australia resist the temptation to send it upstairs, and replays show it was the correct call. All that after Latham started the over with three runs for nudging a straight one square.

9th over: New Zealand 24-1 (Latham 6, Williamson 14) Williamson finds a couple of boundaries on the off-side. The first is another sweetly-timed cover drive as Starc pitches a touch too full. Williamson punishes the last ball of the over past point, while down on one knee, after Starc sends it wide.

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8th over: New Zealand 16-1 (Latham 6, Williamson 6) Almost a mix up running between wickets as the call is a clear ‘yes!’ then both batters hesitate for a moment. The throw goes wide and Latham had just scampered across the crease anyway. Still a warning to the Kiwis though, especially after Williamson’s run out in the first Test.

7th over: New Zealand 14-1 (Latham 5, Williamson 5) Latham picks up a couple off the pad, then adds a single from a leading edge that lands safely near a vacant cover. Williamson picks up his first boundary with a typically elegant, well-timed cover drive. A positive over from the Black Caps pair.

6th over: New Zealand 7-1 (Latham 4, Williamson 1) Mitchell Starc might have the breakthrough but Josh Hazlewood is posing all sorts of problems for New Zealand with the ball nipping around. The final delivery beats Williamson’s bat as he reaches to defend. Maiden.

Thanks Rob, love your work as usual. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed a gripping first session and a bit, as Australia edged ahead even while Matt Henry at least kept them in check.

I’ll be steering us to stumps - keep me company and get in touch on email.

Let’s get into it!