In the opening Test, Australia will go after New Zealand “superstar” Ravindra.WELLINGTON: Australian spinner Nathan Lyon called New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra, who is yet to lose, a rising “superstar” on Saturday, but he also believes the tourists have a good chance of winning the opening Test in Wellington.

After faltering early in their pursuit of a massive 369 to win the opening match of the two-Test series, the home team reached 111-3 at stumps on day three thanks to an impressive 56 not out from Ravindra. Daryl Mitchell was at twelve, and the two combined for 52 in 20.3 overs to offer New Zealand some hope in challenging batting circumstances.

With the help of some outstanding catching from Steve Smith, Lyon took 2-27 to give him six wickets for the innings. Lyon assumes a pivotal role in keeping New Zealand from amassing the final 258 runs required on a Basin Reserve pitch that exhibits movement and bounce.

Before, Australia was bowled out for 164 in their second innings, thanks to the conditions being favorable to New Zealand part-time spinner Glenn Phillips, who grabbed career-best figures of 5-45. Late in the day, Ravindra, who amassed 240 points in the opening Test match against South Africa earlier this month, defied Australia with a flurry of forceful blows in his 94-ball knock.

Lyon stated that it will be imperative to remove the 24-year-old as soon as possible. He finished with three centuries in the 50-over World Cup last year. Lyon remarked, “Rachin looks like a really good player.” “I’ve never bowled to him before, but from what I saw during the World Cup, he’s going to be big,” the bowler said. Give him credit where credit is due; he has performed admirably here. However, I am confident that we can overcome them if we apply sustained pressure and pose a threat to their defense.

“A dream realized”

Mitchell was lucky to escape an early opportunity to be stumped by Lyon when the ball slipped through wicketkeeper Alex Carey’s gloves while the rushing batsman was well out of his bounds. After replacing opener Tom Latham in the sixth over of New Zealand’s innings, Lyon got the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson when Smith dropped a sharp catch at leg slip. Even better was Smith’s second catch, which took Will Young for 15 off Travis Head, a part-time spinner, as he quickly reacted to a thin edge that went low and to his left.

Earlier, Phillips produced the best figures by any New Zealand spinner on home soil in eighteen years, to go along with his 71 at bat in New Zealand’s first innings of 179. Australia lost their last six wickets in a span of 13 overs. Tim Southee, the captain, was thanked by Phillips for allowing him to have this unusual extended period of time. It truly is a dream realized. Timmy is an amazing captain. He offered me the courage to follow through on my plan and venture out,” Phillips remarked.

Travis Head scored 29 and Cameron Green scored 34 in the first innings, but a collapse was caused by the end of their 46-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Before the spinner removed Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey to close catchers and Henry took the final two wickets to finish with 3-36, Head made a mistake that saw Phillips caught at long on. -AFP