Wagner returned figures of 4 for 83, while Tim Southee ended with 3 for 103.
New Zealand's Ross Taylor plays a shot next to Australia's Tim Paine (C) and Marnus Labuschagne on the second day of the second cricket Test match at the MCG in Melbourne on December 27, 2019. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)
After getting dismissed for 467 in their first innings, Australia reduced New Zealand to 44 for 2 at stumps on Day 2 of the first Test of the three-match series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On early Friday, Australia lost overnight batsman Steve Smith for 85 but the 30-year-old’s partner Travis Head dug in his feels with Tim Paine to put 150-run partnership.
In the course it, Paine scored 79 and Head scored second century of his career before losing their wickets to Neil Wagner. Head played a scintillating knock of 114 runs.
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Wagner returned figures of 4 for 83, while Tim Southee ended with 3 for 103. Meanwhile, Colin de Grandhomme got 2 for 68 and Trent Boult claimed the remaining wicket.
Earlier on Boxing Day, riding on half-centuries from Smith and Marnus Labuschagne (63), Australia had ended Day 1 with the scoreline of 257 for 4.
Here are the teams:
Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c & wk), James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, BJ Watling (wk), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult
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