HOBART: Australia cashed in on a bowler-friendly Bellerive greentop to have New Zealand in big strife at 83 for six at lunch on the opening day of the second Test on Friday.
Skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and sent the Black Caps in to bat on a receptive pitch in Hobart, and was richly rewarded. Dean Brownlie was unbeaten on 20 with Doug Bracewell on five.
James Pattinson, the man-of-the-match in Australia's nine-wicket win over the Kiwis at the Gabba last weekend, had three for 39 with Peter Siddle claiming two for 12.
The Kiwis woes were compounded with the loss of experienced all-rounder Daniel Vettori with a hamstring injury on the morning of the Test and replaced by newcomer Trent Boult.
New Zealand were always going to face a difficult first use of the pitch and so it turned out, losing three wickets in the first hour and another three in the hour before lunch.
Martin Guptill survived just three balls before he edged Siddle to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for three in the day's second over.
Jesse Ryder, promoted to number three, was out for a six-ball duck after Pattinson called for a review when English umpire Nigel Llong turned down his vociferous lbw appeal.
Replays showed that Ryder did not get an edge on to his pads and the ball was pitching in line with the stumps, leaving the Black Caps at 11 for two.
Skipper Ross Taylor played with discipline but was out for six when he did not offer a shot to a Siddle in-swinger and was confirmed lbw after a review to have the Kiwis 25 for three in the eighth over.
It took the Black Caps almost 90 minutes to reach 50 as Kane Williamson and McCullum knuckled down.
But both went in the space of the next two overs, Williamson caught glancing Mitchell Starc down the leg-side for 19 and McCullum out to a great ball from Pattinson and giving Haddin his third catch of the innings for 16.
Wicketkeeper Reece Young was out four balls later for a duck, attempting to leave but chopping the ball on to his stumps for Pattinson's third wicket.
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