Khawaja and Voges centuries put Australia in command against New Zealand

13 February 2016 06:53

Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges hit centuries as Australia took control of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

Khawaja struck a fluent 140 - his fourth Test hundred in as many innings - and Voges an unbeaten 176 to help Australia to 463 for six at stumps, a lead of 280.

Trent Boult took two of the three wickets to fall on a tough day for the hosts at the Basin Reserve, where they cursed the decision to reprieve Voges the day before when he was bowled off a no-ball that TV replays showed was a legitimate delivery.

Khawaja was quickly into his stride, playing Tim Southee backward of point for four in the day's opening over and was prolific through the covers.

Voges was more patient, capitalising on anything loose when the opportunity presented itself.

Mark Craig dropped one short that enabled Khawaja to tuck behind square leg to bring up his century off 157 balls that included 19 boundaries.

Craig referred a big lbw appeal against Khawaja to DRS but replays showed the ball was only just clipping the leg stump so the not-out verdict from Richard Illingworth stood. Khawaja responded by cutting the next two deliveries to the fence for four.

Khawaja and Voges upped the pace after lunch but the partnership was ended on 168 after New Zealand had taken the new ball.

Left-armer Boult was getting some movement and he got one to straighten down the line of middle stump to trap Khawaja lbw and two balls later held an athletic return catch to send Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion for a second ball duck.

Voges brought his century up off 203 balls when he advanced down the pitch and lifted Craig over wide long-on for four.

And after a stand of 96 with Peter Nevill (32), Corey Anderson found some extra bounce to remove the Australian wicketkeeper when he got a faint nick behind to BJ Watling.

Peter Siddle then helped Voges put on an unbroken 68 for the seventh wicket to take the visitors through to stumps, completely in control of proceedings.

Source: PA