Josh Hazlewood claimed four wickets as Australia skittled New Zealand for 183 before half-centuries from captain Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja rounded off a fine opening day of the first Test in Wellington for the tourists.
Hazlewood snared both openers in figures of 4-42, with Peter Siddle, who took 3-37, 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.
Hazlewood got one to leave Tom Latham and catch a fine edge – confirmed by DRS – through to Peter Nevill before a perfect delivery did for Martin Guptill, who could only nick to Smith at second slip.
A superb catch by Nevill from Siddle’s second ball sent back Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum, in his 100th Test, fended one to David Warner at short-leg for a duck.
Debutant Henry Nicholls swiftly gave Nevill a third catch of the morning as New Zealand slipped to 51 for five.
BJ Watling again found the gloves of Nevill in the second over after lunch from Hazlewood, Doug Bracewell 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 hit three sixes before being caught on the boundary by a juggling Khawaja for 24 to bring the New Zealand innings to an end with Mark Craig unbeaten on 41.
Australia made the worst possible start to their reply 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.
Adam 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.
Source: ECB