Australia's dominance in the first Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington was epitomised by their emphatic victory, securing the match by a margin of 172 runs.
Spearheaded by standout performances from Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon, Australia clinched their sixth consecutive win in New Zealand.
The pivotal moment in the match occurred on the fourth morning when Lyon spun a web around the New Zealand batting lineup, claiming six wickets for just 65 runs in the innings. Lyon's mesmerising spell, including four crucial wickets, played a pivotal role in dismantling the top order.
With this triumph, Australia extended their winning streak in New Zealand, aligning themselves with the ranks of historic Test cricket performances. Only England, with eight consecutive Test victories in South Africa from 1889 to 1899, and New Zealand's seven consecutive wins in Zimbabwe from 2000 to 2016, surpass Australia's remarkable achievement.
Furthermore, Australia's victory ensured the retention of the Trans-Tasman Trophy for the 12th consecutive series, maintaining their stronghold on the coveted trophy since their series win at home in 1993-94. New Zealand last held the Trans-Tasman Trophy in the 1992-93 season.
Lyon's exceptional performance not only secured victory for Australia but also carved his name into the annals of cricketing history. New Zealand became the ninth country where Lyon claimed a five-wicket haul in Test cricket as he joined the ranks of legends such as Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne, achieving a 5-fer in nine different host countries.
His remarkable 10-wicket haul in the match marked the first instance of a spin bowler taking 10-plus wickets in a Test match in New Zealand since 2006, a feat previously achieved by Daniel Vettori and Muralitharan.
Lyon's bowling figures of 6/65 in the fourth innings set a new benchmark for Australian bowlers in men's Tests on New Zealand soil, surpassing Dennis Lillee's previous record of 6/72 in the 1977 Auckland Test.
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