Marnus Labuschagne scored a third Test century in as many matches, but Australia were still made to struggle at times by New Zealand on a riveting opening day of the pink-ball match in Perth.
n fact, stumps was perhaps accompanied by a sigh of relief from the Australians, after Tim Southee and Neil Wagner put in blistering late spells with the second new ball to make it a nervous ending to the day for the home side. That said, for the most part, Australia bossed the day, ending it 248/8, with Labuschagne unbeaten on 110, accompanied by Travis Head on 20*.
Australia opted to bat, and David Warner seemed to be in the mood right from the start, driving Tim Southee through covers in the third over the day. Warner and Joe Burns batted through the first hour, with the former finding the fence every now and then.
Burns had a harder time of it, beaten a couple of times, and he fell shortly after the hour-mark, with Colin de Grandhomme moving one in off the seam to trap him under the knee roll. Burns deliberated reviewing that decision, but decided against it, and replays suggested he should have.
---ICC
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