Nathan Lyon finished the pick of the Australia attack with 4-43 after the seamers had done the early damageFirst Test, Wellington (day two of five):Australia 383 (Green 174*; Southee 5-70) & 13-2: Southee 2-5New Zealand 179: Phillips 71; Lyon 4-43Australia lead by 217 runsScorecard
New Zealand’s top-order batting collapsed as Australia took control of the first Test on a frantic second day in Wellington.
A last-wicket stand of 116 from Cameron Green, who hit a Test best 174 not out, and Josh Hazlewood helped the tourists post 383 in their first innings.
New Zealand slipped to 29-5 before Glenn Phillips (71) counter-attacked as the hosts reached 179 in reply.
Australia closed on 13-2 with a 217-run lead after Tim Southee’s late burst.
Southee bowled Steve Smith for a duck with his third ball and then had Marnus Labuschagne (two) caught behind to lift the Kiwis on an otherwise chastening day.
It began with an Australian record 10th-wicket stand against New Zealand as Green and Hazlewood (22) frustrated the home side’s attack.
Australia’s seamers then took the momentum into the field as they seized the upper hand in the afternoon session.
Tom Latham (five) struggled against Mitchell Starc’s pace and played on in the fourth over before Kane Williamson was run out by Labuschagne without scoring after a collision with Will Young.
More misery followed for the Black Caps three balls later when Rachin Ravindra was caught for a duck off Hazlewood, who finished with 2-55.
New Zealand’s 12-3 then became 29-5 after Daryl Mitchell (11) edged Pat Cummins behind and Young (nine) nicked Mitchell Marsh into the gloves of Alex Carey.
Phillips hit 13 fours in his 70-ball knock as he rallied with Tom Blundell (33) and Matt Henry (42) before Lyon (4-43) ran through the tail.
“The pitch was moving around a little bit and they were hitting really good areas so it was up to us to get the pressure back up on them,” Phillips said.
“Obviously the way Green played with Hazlewood, they did really well and put up a massive partnership. It’s not ideal for us but that’s what Test cricket is like.”