“Calamity out there in the middle,” former Australia all-rounder Brendon Julian, who was doing commentary, said, while Craig McMillan added: “I can’t believe what I’ve just seen here. That is just a disaster for New Zealand.”
It reduced the Kiwis to 12 for 2 in response to Australia’s first innings total of 383. That led to wheels coming off and the home team was reduced to 29/5. An 84-run stand for the sixth wicket between Glenn Phillips (71) and Tom Blundell (33) gave a touch of respectability to the Kiwi total, but they were eventually bowled out for 179 to concede a massive 204-run lead.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon was the most successful Australian bowler with figures of 4/43.