New Zealand put up a valiant fight to claw their way back into contention during the first Chappell-Hadlee Test at Basin Reserve. Despite conceding a hefty first-innings lead of 204 to Australia, they managed to reduce them to 127/6 in the second innings.
However, their task remained daunting, especially with Cameron Green, who had earlier scored an unbeaten 174, looking settled once again.
The drama unfolded as Tim Southee took charge at the start of the second session on Day 3. Delivering a full ball to Green, Southee witnessed the ball balloon off the bat and head towards the Kiwi skipper.
However, he seemed caught off guard by the rebound, raising his hands in dismay as the ball slipped through his fingers, letting Green off the hook.
The agony was palpable as Southee remained bent over in disbelief, gazing skyward as if seeking divine intervention to erase the blunder. This mishap echoed a similar missed opportunity on Day 2 when Southee had dropped Nathan Lyon at slip, allowing the spinner to amass 41 crucial runs.
— Grahman (@Grahman326048) March 2, 2024
The frustration boiled over as Southee screamed in anguish, “Twice!” and vented his frustration with a futile throw at the stumps. Social media was quick to both sympathize with and mock the veteran cricketer for his misfortune.
