Hobart: Australian paceman James Pattinson continued his crash course in test cricket on Friday, taking his second five-wicket haul in an as many innings to help dismiss New Zealand for 150 before tea on the opening day of the second test.
The 21-year-old Pattinson, man-of-the-match on his test debut in last week’s nine-wicket win, returned 5-51 against a New Zealand lineup missing ex-captain Daniel Vettori.
Vettori strained his left hamstring and withdrew hours before the match, making him unavailable to play the steady hand the New Zealand innings needed as he did in the first innings of the series-opener at the Gabba when he fell four runs short of a century.
Dean Brownlie continued his impressive form with the bat, scoring 56 before he was bowled by Pattinson as the last three New Zealand wickets fell for four runs.
Pattinson will start the second innings on a hat-trick after removing Brownlie and No 11 Chris Martin on consecutive balls.
In reply, Australia was 12 for one when rain stopped play, with opener Phil Hughes (4) out cheaply again to a catch behind the wicket.
Hughes, considered lucky to hang onto his opening spot after the first test, edged a boundary through a crowded slips cordon to get off the mark, but the left-hander again couldn’t resist a good ball outside off stump and angled a Martin delivery to second slip to start the third over.David Warner was unbeaten on seven at stumps.
The pacemen were always likely to dominate on a green wicket and in overcast conditions at Bellerive Oval, where Australia has never lost a test match, so it was an important toss for Michael Clarke to win.
He wisely elected to bowl first and the Black Caps were all out in 45.5 overs for the same total they made in the second innings of the Gabba test last week. (AFP)