Pattinson blows top order to leave New Zealand reeling at Tea

In his first Test at the top of the order, Tom Blundell led New Zealand's resistance with a very resilient half-century, taking his side to 131 for 4 at Tea on Day 4. After New Zealand lost three wickets inside two overs to be reduced to 35/3, Blundell and Henry Nicholls kept Australia at bay for most of the session on Sunday (December 29).

The pair came together with New Zealand reeling having lost the vital wickets of Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor as James Pattinson struck in his successive overs. He single-handedly derailed New Zealand's defence, taking Australia closer to the series victory in Melbourne. Nicholls was the aggressor, while Blundell took a back seat, keeping him able company. Pattinson and Pat Cummins bowled with sheer pace in the session, but the pair found ways to keep the scoreboard ticking while not giving the pacers an inlet. It was Nathan Lyon who provided the breakthrough after the pair had added 54 runs for the fourth wicket. Nicholls could've been dismissed much earlier had an inside edge that brushed the stumps knocked the bails out. Starc, the bowler, however, had overstepped.

Nicholls dispatched Lyon for a six in his second over after the drinks break. The bowler had the last laugh however, tossing a slower one up, inviting the batsman to come forward for the defensie push. Tim Paine was quick to pounce on the chance as Nicholls dragged his foot outside the crease and couldn't make it back in time, falling for 33 off 52. Australia then lost a review referring a leg-before call against Blundell, which was found to be pitching outside.

Blundell thereafter, switched gears and got to a fifty, making the most of the ball going old. In an unbeaten 42-run stand that came off just 58 balls with BJ Watling, he scored 36 of those in 35 balls, with a slew of boundaries coming before the break, in what turned out to be one of the better sessions in the game for New Zealand.

Australia had set New Zealand an improbable 488 with over a day and a half to bat out. New Zealand losing a clump of wickets in a short span gave Australia the advantage going into Lunch, after they had declared 38 minutes into play. Neil Wagner picked up his third wicket of the innings as Travis Head's stumps were knocked out after he shuffled across by a mile. Along with Wagner, Tim Southee assisted in keeping the runs within check in the morning. But with Australia having piled on the runs yesterday, they had enough on the board for Paine to opt for a declaration on 168 for 5, giving his side 168 overs to bowl the opponents out.

With a mighty tough task at hand, New Zealand started steadily despite the Australian bowlers right on the money from the onset. On the third ball of the innings, Starc had Blundell trapped leg-before with an inwinger but the umpire didn't make much of it, nor did the Australians review. Had they, though, it would've been curtains for the opener with the ball found crashing into leg-stump. Blundell at the break was unbeaten on 73.

Cummins on the other hand too was posing questions as the pair bowled with serious pace. Pattinson was brought in after eight overs and struck instantly - with just his fourth ball, causing a flurry of wickets. He first had Latham edge a full delivery to Paine, then trapped Williamson in his next over leg-before with a delivery that lacked bounce. The skipper reviewed, but to no avail. At the end of the same over that his captain departed for a duck, Ross Tyalor played a loose shot to chop back on to his stumps as New Zealand found themselves once again in a spot of bother.

Brief scores: Australia 467 & 168/5 dec (David Warner 38, Joe Burns 35; Neil Wagner 3-50) lead New Zealand 148 & 131/4 (Tom Blundell 73*; James Pattinson 3-33) by 357 runs.