WELLINGTON: Mitchell Marsh ruined New Zealand’s hopes for a Brendon McCullum salvage mission after Adam Voges’ record-breaking double century put Australia firmly in command of the first Test in Wellington on Sunday.At stumps on the third day, New Zealand were 178-4 in their second innings, requiring a further 201 to make Australia bat again.Test debutant Henry Nicholls was not out 31 with McCullum lbw to Marsh in the final over of the day for 10.Voges’ 239 was in part testament to how docile the pitch had become since New Zealand were rolled for 183 inside two sessions on the first day.But there were still wickets to be had, as Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood found as they chipped away at the top order.For New Zealand there were memories of being on the ropes against India at the same ground two years ago and being rescued by McCullum’s triple century.The usually big-hitting captain was showing every sign of looking to dig in for a long stay with his 10 coming off 31 before he was out with three balls remaining in the day.Martin Guptill (45) and Tom Latham put on 81 for the first wicket, New Zealand’s best opening stand against Australia since 1993.Kane Williamson fell for 22 while Latham grafted away for 63 before he tried to sweep Lyon to the leg side and skied the ball in the opposite direction to Usman Khawaja at mid-off.– Record first-innings lead –It was Voges, though, who ensured Australia had a firm grip on the match.He resumed the third day at 176 and added a further 63 before his marathon 504 minutes in the middle ended caught and bowled by Mark Craig.It was 614 runs since he was previously dismissed in the pink-ball Test against New Zealand at Adelaide in November, easily bettering the previous record of 497 between dismissals set by India’s Sachin Tendulkar in 2004.It also settled Voges’ Test average at 97.46 from 19 innings, after being ahead of Don Bradman’s 99.94 before his wicket fell.His double century — coupled with Usman Khawaja’s 140 — also ensured a record first-innings lead for Australia against New Zealand in an innings where six Australians failed to reach double figures.Latham and Guptill saw off the new ball but when they looked comfortable and settled, Guptill tried to smack off-spinner Lyon out of the ground and was caught by Marsh.
Hazlewood, Australia’s chief destroyer in the first innings, tempted Williamson to prod at a ball outside off and it was nicked through to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.It was a chance for Nevill to make amends after he had dropped Latham when the opener was on 31.-AFP
