Voges-inspired Australia beat New Zealand by a huge margin

Australia demolished New Zealand by an innings and 52 runs to win the first Test match in Wellington with a day to spare. Trailing the visitors by a mammoth 379 runs in the first innings, New Zealand offered little resistance in the second innings which folded at 327.

Australian Captain Steve Smith says he wants his side to be the number one in all three formats of the game. REUTERS/Hamish Blair

The most entertaining knocks of the innings came from tail enders Tim Southee, who hit 48 runs off just 23 balls and Mark Craig who made an unbeaten 33.

Other batsmen who got a start but failed to convert it into a big score were Tom Latham (63), Martin Guptill (45) and Kane Williamson (22).

Natan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets for 79 runs while Mitchell Marsh took three for 73.

The Test will be remembered for yet another majestic performance by Australian middle order batsman who scored 239 runs in the first innings bringing his Test average to 97, just two short of the legendary Australian batsman Don Bradman.

Australia will become the world’s No 1 Test side if it beats New Zealand in the second Test match which starts in Christchurch on February 20.

Speaking about his side’s performance, captain Steve Smith said that  Australia, which is the world no 1 side in One Day Internationals, wants to be the top team in the world in all three formats.

“I think this Test match is a step in the right direction. It was a pretty good toss to win. Having said that, we had to put the ball in the right areas for extended periods and I think we did that. We put the NZ batters under pressure and reaped the rewards,” he said.

Final scorecard:

New Zealand (1st innings) 183

Australia (1st innings) 562

New Zealand (2nd innings): T. Latham c Khawaja b Lyon 63, M. Guptill c Marsh b Lyon 45, K. Williamson c Nevill b Hazlewood 22, H. Nicholls b Bird 59, B. McCullum lbw Marsh 10, C. Anderson lbw Marsh 0, B. Watling b Lyon 10, D. Bracewell lbw Hazlewood 14, M. Craig not out 33, T. Southee c Khawaja b Lyon 48, T. Boult b Marsh 12

Total (for 10 wickets, 104.3 overs) 327

Bowling: Hazlewood 29-7-75-2, Bird 19-4-51-1 (nb2), Siddle 8-0-30-0, Marsh 17.3-2-73-3 (nb2), Lyon 31-10-91-4