Kane Williamson thanks the New Zealand crowd at MCG for their support and love

New Zealand couldn’t manage to chase down the target of 448 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Australia in the Boxing Day Test. Despite the heroics of Tom Blundell, who scored a fighting 121 runs; the Kiwis faltered by 247 runs, after being bowled out for 240 with Trent Boult not coming out to bat after breaking his right hand.

The Test match was a massive one for an Australia-New Zealand Test match at the MCG in terms of crowd numbers, with more than 2 Lakh attendance turning out to watch the Boxing Day encounter between the two sides, which happened for the first time since 1987.

Skipper Kane Williamson gets a Haka thanks from Kiwi fans

There were approximately 16,000 New Zealand fans who had bought the tickets for the historic MCG Test. With record-setting crowds attending the match, the Blackcaps were not short of support despite a disheartening loss to Australia, which also meant that they lost the 3-match series 2-0 with one match to go. However, the Kiwi team received a Haka from the New Zealand crowd, as they approached the fans to thank them for their support.

A Twitter user shared the video of Kane Williamson interacting with the fans and captioned the post, “#SteadyTheShip with a big “Thanks Mate!” to all the Great New Zealanders who sung their hearts out all Test in support of the @BLACKCAPS! #BoxingDayTest #AUSvNZ”

#SteadyTheShip with a big “Thanks Mate!” to all the Great New Zealanders who sung their hearts out all Test in support of the @BLACKCAPS! #BoxingDayTest #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/tSgj5ERtad

— The ACC (@TheACCnz) December 29, 2019

It was Nathan Lyon with four wickets and James Pattinson with three wickets, that routed the visitors despite the valiant effort from Blundell, who got some support from BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner. Travis Head was named the Man of the Match for his 114 in Australia’s first innings, while Pat Cummins picked 5/28, as Kiwis were bowled out 148 in response to home side’s 467.

For New Zealand, Trent Boult, who came into this side having recovered from a side strain, broke his right hand, after being hit by a Cummins’ delivery and didn’t come out to bat in second innings. He will fly back to New Zealand for rest. The Black Caps already lost Lockie Ferguson to an injury during the first Test itself. The third and final Test will be played at the Sydney Test Ground from January 3.