A Matt Henry 7-fer and a fighting half-century from Tom Latham has kept New Zealand alive in the second Test against Australia in Christchurch as they went into stumps with a lead of 40. The visitors are still slightly ahead in the contest but things could have been far worse for New Zealand if not for an improved showing on the second day.

Australia began the day in positive fashion as overnight batters Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon dealt in boundaries. While Labuschagne went past fifty, Lyon survived a dropped chance and made the hosts pay by making 20 before Henry managed to find the outside edge. Labuschagne then cut Scott Kuggeleijn for a boundary to help Australia take the lead but the hosts kept pegging them back. Henry completed his five-fer by trapping Mitchell Marsh for a duck before the golden arm of Glenn Phillips saw the back of Alex Carey.

Mitchell Starc then frustrated the home side with a stubborn little partnership with Labuschagne but just before the Tea break, New Zealand struck. Once again, it was Phillips who made things happen. This time though, it was on the field with an extraordinary one-handed diving catch to get rid of Labuschagne for 90. Post resumption, Henry removed both Starc and Pat Cummins after they had made some vital contributions to drag the lead to 94.

Under pressure, New Zealand suffered an early jolt with the bat. Starc bowled a delivery that just went with the angle whereas Will Young anticipated it to come back, only to edge it behind. However, after the early wicket, New Zealand recovered very well on the back of a century stand between Kane Williamson and Latham. Williamson, who was cautious to begin with, hit three boundaries off Starc to force a bowling change. It didn’t affect the New Zealand no.3 as Pat Cummins was also welcomed to the attack with two boundaries in the same over.

Latham, who was subdued for the major part of his stay, took on Lyon for a couple of boundaries but New Zealand’s run rate largely hovered just over two-runs-per-over. The two batters then brought up the highest partnership of the series for New Zealand and in the process, put their side in the lead. Williamson went past 50 in his 100th Test but his hopes of batting through the day was cut short by Cummins who finally ended the century stand. But with Latham firm at one end and plenty of batting to come, the hosts will be hopeful of setting a fighting target.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 162 and 134/2 (Tom Latham 65*, Kane Williamson 51) lead  Australia 256 (Marnus Labuschagne 90; Matt Henry 7/67) by 40 runs