New Zealand made a secure start after a Marnus Labuschagne double century lifted Australia to a massive 454 first innings total in the third Test on Saturday.
The rock-solid number three reached his highest Test score of 215 in Sydney with the Australians dismissed just before tea on the second day. In reply, the Blackcaps grittily batted through the final session without losing a wicket, leaving skipper Tom Latham on 26 and Melbourne Test centurion Tom Blundell at 34 in their team's total of 63. There were a couple of close calls - notably a leg before wicket appeal off Nathan Lyon and a possible edge off Pat Cummins - but the Kiwis showed plenty of fight after enduring five tough sessions in the field in sapping heat.
The day belonged to Labuschagne, who sweated on 199 for 20 minutes before he thick edged Colin de Grandhomme through the vacant slips to the ropes to bring up his double ton.
The milestone came off 363 balls with 19 fours and a six and eclipsed his previous Test record of 185 against Pakistan in Brisbane last November.
The Kiwis finally dispatched him after he was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Todd Astle. Wickets tumbled quickly just before tea with James Pattinson bowled by Neil Wagner for two, Pat Cummins caught off Astle's bowling for eight and Mitchell Starc hitting a breezy 22 off 21 balls before he was bowled by Wagner, who finished with three for 66.
The hosts lost two wickets in the morning session.
Henry was bowling despite fracturing his left thumb on Friday. He had the injury strapped and placed in a splint to continue on playing.-AFP
SCOREBOARD
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Australia 1st innings (overnight 283-3)
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D. Warner c de Grandhomme b Wagner 45
J. Burns c Taylor b de Grandhomme 18
M. Labuschagne c & b Astle 215
S. Smith c Taylor b de Grandhomme 63
M. Wade b Somerville 22
T. Head c Watling b Henry 10
T. Paine b de Grandhomme 35
J. Pattinson b Wagner 2
P. Cummins c Phillips b Astle 8
M. Starc b Wagner 22
N. Lyon not out 6
Extras: (lb6, nb1, w1) 8
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Total: (all out; 150.1 overs) 454
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Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Burns), 2-95 (Warner), 3-251 (Smith), 4-288 (Wade), 5-331 (Head), 6-410 (Paine), 7-416 (Labuschagne), 8-426 (Pattinson), 9-430 (Cummins), 10-454 (Starc)
Bowling: Henry 32-3-94-1 (1w), de Grandhomme 24-1-78-3 (1nb), Wagner 33.1-9-66-3, Somerville 29-2-99-1, Astle 32-0-111-2
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New Zealand 1st innings
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T. Latham not out 26
T. Blundell not out 34
Extras (b1, lb2) 3
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Total: (0 wkt, 29 overs) 63
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Bowling: Starc 7-0-18-0, Cummins 9-3-18-0, Pattinson 4-1-10-0, Lyon 8-3-13-0, Labuschagne 1-0-1-0
Toss: Australia
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Marais Erasmus (RSA)
TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS).
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