Cameron Green slammed only his second Test century Thursday to steer Australia to 279-9 at stumps on the opening day of the first Test in Wellington. The visitors were tottering on 89-4 after being put into bat at the Basin Reserve before Green dug in for a rescue mission with the help of Mitchell Marsh, who made 40.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 24-year-old Green brought up three figures with his 16th four in the final over to end unbeaten on 103 with Josh Hazlewood yet to score.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Obviously it feels really good, mainly with where we were as a team," Green said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It was a pretty tough wicket out there ... someone just needed to bat through so glad it was me. Was nice to stick it out, and hopefully put a semi-competitive total on the board."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Green, batting at number four, fought back after New Zealand seamer Matt Henry took the key wickets of Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja and Marsh to end with 4-43 on a green pitch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Henry dismissed Smith for 31 before lunch, bowled Khawaja for 33 after the break then snagged Marsh and Nathan Lyon, for five.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Scott Kuggeleijn, restored to the side, also grabbed two wickets, removing out-of-form Marnus Labuschagne for one and Alex Carey for 10.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Black Caps rising star Will O'Rourke, who took nine wickets on his debut this month, bagged two more in the shape of Travis Head (1) and Mitchell Starc (9).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Green said the wicket would still offer plenty for the Australian quick bowlers on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's pretty close, I reckon they are just on top," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"They have a quality batting line-up and we have to bowl well tomorrow."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marsh and Green offered the main resistance with a 67-run partnership off 77 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'Proud of him' -
\r\n"We're all very proud of him, probably more with the way he went about his innings. He looked calm from ball one," Marsh said of Green.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It was a fantastic innings to get us back in the game."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After winning the toss, Tim Southee and New Zealand's pace bowlers were frustrated by Smith and Khawaja as they put on 61 before Henry got the breakthrough.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smith, promoted to open for the second Test in a row after the retirement of David Warner, lasted 71 deliveries, crunching four boundaries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Henry induced him to play back to a delivery that nipped and took the edge, with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell collecting a sharp diving catch in front of first slip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Labuschagne departed after a defensive knock, getting a thick outside edge to Daryl Mitchell at slip off Kuggeleijn, with Khawaja and Head following in quick succession.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Henry's inswinger took out the stump of Khawaja before Head went after O'Rourke but clipped the ball to Blundell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marsh crashed six fours and a six before Henry struck again straight after tea, with Australia's Twenty20 skipper attempting a pull shot that landed in Blundell's gloves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Carey departed for 10 before O'Rourke had Starc caught at second slip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pat Cummins was trapped lbw by spinner Rachin Ravindra with Henry taking his fourth when Lyon was also caught behind.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That was a hell of a knock from Cam Green today, but in general, we did a good job," said Henry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Hopefully tomorrow morning we can finish the job.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We created enough pressure for a long period of time, but it's Test cricket and can change just like that."<\/p>\r\n\r\n