AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND, FIRST TEST, DAY THREE:
Score: Australia 416 & 6-167, NZ 166
Summary: The Kiwis started the day at 5-109 and were skittled for 166, with Ross Taylor (80) the only batsman to offer any real resistance. Half centuries from Joe Burns (53) and Marnus Labuschagne (50) has helped Australia build a 417-run lead. Australia were cruising at 1-131 in their second innings, but a collapse of 5-29 has given NZ a tiny sniff of victory. Umpire Aleem Dar was left writhing in pain during the final session when his left knee collided with fielder Mitchell Santner as NZ attempted a run-out.
Man of the moment: Paceman Tim Southee. NZ were in all sorts of trouble after conceding a 250-run first-innings lead. But just as it looked to be mission impossible for NZ, Southee struck with the late scalps of Joe Burns, Travis Head, and Tim Paine to finish the day with 4-63.
Key moment: Spinner Nathan Lyon weaves his magic. Ross Taylor was NZ's last hope of posting a decent first-innings score, but the Kiwis were left deflated when he edged Lyon to Steve Smith at slip for 80. NZ's total of 166 left them well short of Australia's 416.
Stat of the day: 203 - Taylor's Test average in Perth after three knocks. He scored 290 and 36no at the WACA in 2015, and he followed it up with 80 in NZ's first innings at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
Quote of the day: "It's a tight series so it will be tough work to get up for the last Test. We'll see how we go." - Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood all but rules himself out of the Boxing Day Test after straining his hamstring, and he might also miss the SCG Test.
Australian Associated Press
