Century scored by Australian Cameron Green took his team to 279-9 against New Zealand on openingday of the first test here at Basin Reserve.
Earlier, four wickets of Australia fell for only 89 runs after which Cameron was put into bat with rescue mission who supported the team along with Mitchell Marsh, who scored 40.
Cameron Green 24, brought up three figures with his 16th four in the final over to end unbeaten on 103 with Josh Hazlewood yet to score.
“Obviously it feels really good, mainly with where we were as a team,” Green said. “It was a pretty tough wicket out there … someone just needed to bat through so glad it was me. Was nice to stick it out, and hopefully put a semi-competitive total on the board.”
Green, batting at number four, fought back after New Zealand seamer Matt Henry took the key wickets of Steve Smith, UsmanKhawaja and Marsh to end with 4-43 on a green pitch.
Henry dismissed Smith for 31 before lunch, bowled Khawaja for 33 after the break then snagged Marsh and Nathan Lyon, for five.
Scott Kuggeleijn, restored to the side, also grabbed two wickets, removing out-of-form Mar-nusLabuschagne for one and Alex Carey for 10.
Black Caps rising star Will O’Rourke, who took nine wickets on his debut this month, bagged two more in the shape of Travis Head (1) and Mitchell Starc (9).
Green said the wicket would still offer plenty for the Australian quick bowlers on Friday.
Marsh and Green offered the main resistance with a 67-run partnership off 77 balls.
After winning the toss, Tim Southee and New Zealand’s pace bowlers were frustrated by Smith and Khawaja as they put on 61 before Henry got the breakthrough.
Smith, promoted to open for the second Test in a row after the retirement of David Warner, lasted 71 deliveries, crunching four boundaries.—INP
