Twitter Reactions: Marnus Labuschagne’s glory run throttles New Zealand

The 25-year-old held his ground by the end of the first day's play at the SCG.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Marnus Labuschagne
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Marnus Labuschagne. (Photo by Jason McCawley – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Marnus Labuschagne hit a purple patch in the second-half of 2019 after becoming Steve Smith’s concussion substitute in the Lord’s Test. The 25-year-old has now started 2020 on a grand note, scoring his fourth Test ton against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Courtesy his knock, Australia managed to score 282 for three, getting the upper hand after the first day’s play in Sydney.

Labuschagne and Smith steady the ship

Amidst the bush-fire tragedy in New South Wales, the third and final Test got underway. The Aussies made a steady start as David Warner (45) and Joe Burns (18) added 39 for the first wicket. Colin de Grandhomme found Burns’ outside edge to strike first blood. Steve Smith (63) joined Warner and they played out the first session. But Warner perished in the very first over of the second session.

The southpaw couldn’t counter a short-ball from Neil Wagner and was caught at leg gully. Thereafter, Marnus Labuschagne (130*) put on a stand of 156 runs with Smith and helped the hosts clinch the ascendancy. Smith was a tad circumspect and got to his half-century off 143 balls. At the other end, Labuschagne took only 97 balls to score his fifty and commence the year on a grand note.

Labuschagne make New Zealand strain

In the final session, Labuschagne went from strength to strength and notched his century off 163 balls. Just when it seemed that Smith and Marnus would see the Aussies through to stumps, De Grandhomme made a breakthrough. The second new ball did the trick as the pacer nipped Smith out. The leather jagged a tad and flew to Ross Taylor at first slip after taking Smith’s outside edge.

Matthew Wade (22) came out with intent and played his strokes freely. Wagner tried to pepper him with short deliveries, but without much success. Meanwhile, Labuschagne smacked 12 fours and a six, disallowing the Black Caps from getting under his skin. Marnus and Wade’s stand has fetched 32 runs off 41 balls and the onus will be on the pair to carry on with the good work on the second day.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Labuschagne’s dominance:

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