Twitter Reactions: Clinical Australia thump New Zealand by 296 runs in Perth

Australia, as expected, have won the first Test, which was played under lights, against New Zealand at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The result of the match was never in doubt after the visitors were bundled out for a paltry score in the first innings. The Kiwis didn’t put up a fight in the second innings either which was disappointing after the way their bowlers had bowled late on the third day.

Needing an improbable 468 to win, New Zealand began poorly yet again. Jeet Raval got a terrific delivery from the in-form Mitchell Starc and that set the tone for the Aussies with the ball. Kane Williamson’s lean run by his standards continued in the second innings as well after Nathan Lyon turned one sharply off the crack to get him caught at the short leg.

None of the batsmen could hang around for the BlackCaps as the wicket kept falling at regular intervals. Ross Taylor, the highest scorer of the first innings, looked to attack from the word go but the ploy didn’t work for him this time. He scored 22 runs before edging one to Tim Paine off Mitchell Starc. Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls also got starts only to not go on and score big.

BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme defied the hosts for 56 runs and 20 overs to delay the inevitable but once their partnership was broken, it was a procession. Pat Cummins got the better of the latter who was looking good and New Zealand lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs. Starc was once again amongst the wickets as he finished with the figures of 9/97 in the match.

New Zealand were bundled out for just 171 runs in the second innings as they lost the match by a mammoth 296-run margin to concede a 0-1 lead in the three-match Test series.

Australia add quick runs before declaring

Earlier in the day, Australia added 50 runs in the first session to extend their lead to 467 runs and declared their second innings at 217/9. Matthew Wade and Cummins couldn’t add much to their overnight score but Starc enjoyed his brief stay in the middle. He smashed 23 runs off just 21 balls and Paine called his batsmen back after the southpaw was dismissed by Tim Southee who registered a well-deserved five-wicket haul (5/69).

But the target was always out of New Zealand’s reach as Australia’s home dominance extended for one more Test match. Starc won the Man of the Match award for his fierce bowling in both the innings. There is a fair amount of break for both the teams now as the traditional Boxing Day Test commences on December 26 at the MCG.

Here’s how Twitter reacted: