Australia has been bowled out for 164 after part-time spinner Glenn Phillips ripped through the middle-order in Wellington, taking his maiden Test five-wicket haul on day three of the series opener.
He becomes the first New Zealand bowler to claim a five-fa on home soil in 18 years, with New Zealand now chasing a 369-run target for victory.
Earlier in the morning session, Australian opener Usman Khawaja suffered a brain fade while facing Phillips, recklessly charging down the pitch and stumped by New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for 28.
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MATCH CENTRE: New Zealand vs Australia scorecard
Khawaja removes dove from new bat | 00:44
Travis Head raced towards 29 before holing out to long-off, becoming Phillips’ second victim of the day. The very next delivery, Mitchell Marsh tentatively prodded a delivery towards bat-pad, trudging off for a golden duck.
The hat-trick ball was safely left alone by wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who a few over later slapped a wide delivery directly towards rival captain Tim Southee at cover.
First-innings centurion Cameron Green scratched his way towards 34 before Will Young grabbed a superb chance at bat-pad, giving Phillips his five-fa. The New Zealander was robbed of a sixth wicket later in the same over when Scott Kuggeleijn bottled a high chance at deep mid-wicket.
Adding to Phillips’ frustration, a substitute fielder put down a regulation catch on the boundary rope during his following over, handing Cummins another life.
However, the Australian captain couldn’t make the most of the extra life, nicking towards the slip cordon while facing Matt Henry for 8.
Australia is 9-159 with Josh Hazlewood (0*) and Mitchell Starc (7*) at the crease.
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Earlier, Australian nightwatcher Nathan Lyon fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test fifty in Wellington, dismissed by Black Caps seamer Matt Henry for 41.
The 36-year-old, who was dropped by rival captain Tim Southee on the final delivery of day two, came out swinging on Saturday morning, at one stage cracking three consecutive boundaries.
However, Henry broke through in the 16th over, with Lyon clipping towards Will Young at mid-wicket. Lyon’s highest Test score remains 47, achieved against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018.
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