Josh Hazlewood stars with ball as Australia assume control against New Zealand

12 February 2016 07:23

Josh Hazlewood claimed four wickets as Australia skittled New Zealand for 183 before half-centuries from c aptain Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja rounded off a fine first day of the first Test in Wellington for the tourists.

Hazlewood snared both openers in figures of four for 42, with Peter Siddle (three for 37) also playing a big role in dismantling the Black Caps' top order after they had been asked to bat first.

Australia then recovered from losing both openers cheaply, with Khawaja hitting an unbeaten 57 and Smith making 71 as the visitors reached stumps on 147 for three - trailing by just 36.

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Martin Guptill began positively but Hazlewood got one to leave Latham (six) and a fine edge through to Peter Nevill - confirmed by DRS - left them 17 for one.

A perfect delivery from Hazlewood then did for Guptill for 18, pitching on middle and straightening and the Black Caps opener could only nick it through to Smith at second slip.

Siddle then came into the attack and a superb catch from Nevill from his second ball sent back Kane Williamson for 16.

Williamson, who had driven Siddle's first ball down the ground for four, got an inside edge and Nevill transferred his weight from his right to dive full length to his left to take a superb catch.

Brendon McCullum, in his 100th Test, fended one that seamed back to David Warner at bat and pad for a duck and debutant Henry Nicholls (eight) gave Nevill a third catch of the morning as New Zealand slipped to 51 for five.

BJ Watling (17) again found the gloves of Nevill in the second over after lunch from Hazlewood, Doug Bracewell (five) edged Siddle to Adam Voges at slip and Corey Anderson hit Nathan Lyon to mid-off for 38 as the hosts continued to struggle.

Tim Southee sliced Lyon to point going for a big shot trying to get off the mark and Trent Boult (24) hit three sixes before being caught on the boundary by a juggling Khawaja to bring the New Zealand innings to an end with Mark Craig unbeaten on 41.

Australia made the worst possible start to their innings when Joe Burns gloved a Southee delivery through to Watling before troubling the scorers and, after a long DRS deliberation, was given out.

Warner then swished at a wide one from Southee outside off stump and edged to Watling to leave the visitors on five for two.

Khawaja and Smith looked comfortable, though, as they put on 126 for the third wicket before Smith struck one back at Craig to be caught and bowled for 71.

Voges then had a reprieve in the final over of the day when he shouldered arms to a delivery from Bracewell that nipped back into him, but Richard Illingworth called a no-ball. However, TV replays suggested that Bracewell had not overstepped.

Source: PA