AUS vs NZ | New Zealand will fight till the end, reckons Ross Taylor

After winning the toss, Australia put on a dominant display with the bat, as Marnus Labuschagne scored a 143, with the middle order making useful contributions. Travis Head, who had an ordinary series against Pakistan, scored a handy 56 as the home side put up a mammoth total of 416 in their first innings. 

Under the lights, the Kiwi batsmen were reduced to 1-2 at the end of the 2nd over to leave the away side reeling. However, a brief partnership from Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor ensured that the game did not go away from the Kiwis as they put on a 76 run partnership before Smith’s brilliance in the field. Wickets fell quickly post the Smith brilliance as the Kiwi 1st innings folded at 166 giving Australia a handy lead going into the second innings. 

Despite Australia’s dominance on the field, Taylor believes that the team has got it in them to overturn the result on Day 4 and 5 of the opener. 

"There's still a long way to go in this Test match, but I thought the fight that we showed as a team, especially in that last session, bodes well for the rest of the series," Taylor was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

"We're a long way behind the game at the moment, but if we can show the fight that we've shown in the last series, I think it will give the team a lot of confidence coming over here.” 

New Zealand would go into day 4 knowing that Australia’s lead has gone well over the 400 mark, with the pitch tearing and wearing rapidly. "Throughout the last few years, the strength of this side is the fighting spirit. Regardless of what happens, we want to fight and fight right to the end.” 

Taylor did admit that the Australian bowling attack was on spot in the first innings, not allowing both Taylor and Williamson to get accustomed to the wicket. However, he said that they would step up their game on the last two days to save the Test and perhaps snatch a victory out of nowhere.