New Zealand doused their hard-earned Day 1 efforts in the Trans-Tasman series opener in Wellington with a cold splash when they failed to wrap up the Australian innings until Lunch on Friday, allowing the visitors to pile up a daunting total of 383 runs. Little did the Kiwis anticipate that it was just the tip of the iceberg for what would become a long day on the field.
Early warning signs emerged as Tom Latham fell victim to Mitchell Starc’s delivery, deflecting it onto the stumps in just the fifth over. Despite this setback, a sense of calm prevailed in the Black Caps’ camp with the entry of world number one batsman Kane Williamson, riding high on a streak of seven centuries in his last seven Tests.
Williamson appeared to start confidently, nudging his second delivery towards mid-off to open his account. However, the trouble began when Will Young, at the opposite end, neglected the cardinal rule of trusting his partner while running between the wickets, focusing instead on the ball.
As Young finally looked up to initiate his run, he found Williamson uncomfortably close, maneuvering around the stationary Starc. With both batters almost colliding, Young couldn’t avoid crashing into his partner, halting Williamson’s progress abruptly.
In the ensuing chaos, Young’s bat flew out of his hands, providing Marnus Labuschagne with an easy run-out opportunity at the bowler’s end. The dismissal left Williamson visibly frustrated, a rare sight, as he gestured in dismay before trudging back to the pavilion.
The pressure is on New Zealand after Kane Williamson was run out – the first time in a Test Match since 2012
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Meanwhile, Starc, caught in the midst of the commotion, remained rooted to his spot while his teammates erupted in celebration. The bizarre turn of events left both fans and pundits on Twitter expressing disbelief at the spectacle.