Australia took a 22-run first-innings lead against New Zealand, adding 106 runs after a contentious not-out decision gave Nathan Lyon a reprieve on the second day of the first day-night cricket Test.
Australia was eventually out for 224, with top-scorer Peter Nevill last man out for 66, in reply to New Zealand’s 202.
The Australians were 118-8 when Lyon attempted a sweep shot against left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, was hit on the shoulder and the rebound was caught at slip. He was given not out, but New Zealand referred the decision to the TV umpire, believing Lyon had edged the ball as he swung, and the hot spot technology used in the Decision Review System (DRS) appeared to highlight a mark on the top of his bat.
But TV umpire Nigel Llong of England decided, on the basis that the snicko technology didn’t reflect any edge, that the evidence was not conclusive. Lyon, who had started walking back to the pavilion after seeing a replay of his sweep on the stadium screen, went back to the crease and contributed 34 in a 74-run partnership with Nevill that equaled the record for the ninth-wicket in a trans-Tasman test match.
Nevill continued with Mitch Starc, who batted despite being unable to bowl after picking up a stress fracture in his right foot on Friday, ensured Australia took a lead with a 34-run partnership for the last wicket.
Starc, unable to run, stood on his crease and clobbered an unbeaten 24 from 15 balls, clobbering Mark Craig for two boundaries and two sixes over long-on in one over that cost New Zealand 20 runs. Nevill, hitting out for boundaries after a compiling a patient half-century, was caught in the deep off Doug Bracewell, giving the New Zealand allrounder figures of 3—18 and the batsmen seven overs to survive before dinner.
At the interval, Martin Guptill and Tom Latham were both unbeaten on 10 and New Zealand was 22 without loss, erasing the deficit.
The first session was dominated by New Zealand after Australia resumed at 54-2.
Mark Craig took two wickets in an over, including that of Australian skipper Steve Smith, to give New Zealand the upper hand before the tea break.
Smith (53) held the innings together as Adam Voges (13), Shaun Marsh (2) and Mitchell Marsh (4) were dismissed.
Peter Siddle (0) was out four balls later, and test rookie Santner bowled Josh Hazlewood (4) in the last over before the interval.
