Australia took control of the first Test on Friday as they bowled out New Zealand for 179 after Cameron Green’s superb late-wicket partnership A score of 174 not out forced the visitors to 383 not out.
The Black Caps lost wickets en masse against the Australian attack and Glenn Phillips’ aggressive 71-for-71 only saved the home side from further embarrassment in front of a sell-out crowd.
Australia opted not to execute the follow-on but wickets continued to fall, with captain Tim Southee dismissing Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne cheaply, Because the shadows on the ground lengthened.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was dismissed by Southee in the last ball of the day and will resume in the six overs instead of being out with Usman Khawaja, The latter remains unbeaten in five games. Australia has won 13 points from two games and leads by 217 points.
New Zealand, hoping to beat their neighbors for only the second time in 24 Tests this century, had hoped to take Australia’s final wicket quickly but Green and Josh Hazlewood Refusing to yield for two hours.
All-rounder Green, who reached the century mark for the second time in the penultimate ball of the first day’s Test, continued to play, hitting 23 fours and five sixes in a marathon innings of 275 runs.
Hazlewood contributed 22 off 62 balls at the other end as the duo combined for 116 runs, with final seamer Matt Henry finishing with figures of 5-70 against the Australian pacer player, taking his second Test five-wicket haul.
Australia’s final tally included 41 extra players, including 20 wide players, but New Zealand’s profligacy was not limited to their defence, and they were soon reduced to 12-3.
Tom Latham went on to hit five and two before Kane Williamson caught his batting partner Will Young at mid-off before Labusha Labuschagne’s direct hit destroyed the stumps and he got himself a duck.
Three balls later, Rachin Ravindra was also sent back for zero as Nathan Lyon caught the bowling of Hazlewood.
Australia captain Pat Cummins sparked the next collapse when he caught Daryl Mitchell off the last ball and Mitchell Marsh caught the next over. The first goal ended Young’s innings, leaving the hosts 29-5.
Phillips and Tom Brundle combined for an 84-run stand to steady the sinking ship, but Lyon (4-43) ended it after Lyon (4-43) grabbed 33 runs inside situation.
Two balls later, Scott Kuggeleijn became the spinner’s second victim and the home side were in trouble again at 113-7.
Hazlewood eventually found a way to dislodge Phillips, the batsman delivering the top edge to Starc at deep, and the end came quickly when Lyon stopped Henry’s combative innings in the 42nd over . The second and final Test will begin in Christchurch on March 8.
