Tea New Zealand 42 for 5 (Phillips 8*, Blundell 5*, Starc 1-4) trail Australia 383 (Green 174*, Marsh 40, Henry 5-70) by 341 runs
Darryl Mitchell and Will Young put up a brief resistance but fell in successive deliveries to leave the crowd stunned as New Zealand reached tea in deep trouble at 42 for 5.
Australia’s four bowlers were relentless and each took a wicket with Nathan Lyon yet to come into the attack.
New Zealand had high hopes of mustering a strong response amid sunny conditions with the pitch appearing to flatten out, as it often does at Basin Reserve. But it wasn’t over as they slumped to 29 for 5 with uneven bounce still evident as the ball was developed from deliveries.
Williamson, who scored three tons in four innings against South Africa, was run out in a scrum just two balls later. He started for a single only to collide with Young, who was tracking the ball, as Marnus Labuschagne hit the stumps with a direct shot from close range.
In the next over, Rachin Ravindra was tempted to drive with a full and wide delivery by Josh Hazlewood only to get to Lyon, who held on well at point.
New Zealand’s spirit was seemingly crushed by the earlier onslaught of Green, who smashed 71 runs to completely dominate a protracted first session.
After establishing himself as Australia’s No.4 with a brilliant century on the opening day of the series, Green toyed with New Zealand’s hectic attack through a combination of power and positioning. His 275-ball masterclass included 23 boundaries and five sixes.
He combined with Hazlewood, who made 22 off 62 balls, in a 116-run partnership that surpassed Australia’s previous highest in the last over against New Zealand, which was 114 when Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie famously combined at the Gabba in 2004 .
Their partnership was significantly the highest of the entries. The last time a tenth-wicket stand topped an Australian innings was in 2015 against the West Indies, when Adam Voges and Hazlewood added 97 runs at Roseau.
Resuming on 279 for 9, Australia eyed a score of 300 but Green had other ideas as he continued his day one heroics. Green played smart and didn’t make the break immediately with the pitch spread out and only one slip in place.
Green scored just seven runs in the first 30 minutes until he edged a short delivery from Henry over deep square leg and into the crowd to bring up Australia’s 300. The same shot took him past his highest Test score of 114.
He continued to sniff out New Zealand’s frustrated power-hitting attack and brought up his 150 after hitting a short delivery from Will O’Rourke for a six over leg.
When Hazlewood did face it, he defended well and also produced some attractive knocks in his highest Test score in five years, having played 27 innings without conceding more than 11.
The game was extended by 30 minutes, with Australia nine wickets down, and Henry finally managed to win when he had Hazlewood chipping at mid-off.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth