By Tristan Lavalette

PERTH (Reuters) – Australia cleaned up a hapless New Zealand under lights on the fourth day to secure a commanding 296-run victory in the first Test on Sunday.

Chasing a record 468 runs, New Zealand crumbled against sustained bowling from Australia’s undermanned attack and were bowled out for 171 in a lopsided contest.
A rejuvenated Australia have won their third straight Test of the home season since retaining the Ashes in England and stretched their unbeaten run in day-night matches to seven.

“It was a pretty solid performance considering we were a bowler down for two innings and not having an all-rounder in our side,” Australia captain Tim Paine told reporters. “Really rapt with that performance particularly from our bowlers.”
BJ Watling (40) and Colin de Grandhomme (33) stonewalled in a bid to stretch the Test into a final day, but their dismissals triggered a swift end. Quick Mitchell Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon claimed four wickets apiece.

The tourists’ chase on a deteriorating Perth Stadium pitch got off to a disastrous start when opener Jeet Raval and Kane Williamson (14) fell before the tea break.
Lyon picked up the prized wicket of Williamson with his first ball as the New Zealand skipper meekly poked to short leg.

Raval made just one for the second time in the match, falling to a sharp Starc delivery.
Ross Taylor, who top-scored with 80 in New Zealand’s first innings, stonewalled alongside Tom Latham before losing patience and edging an attempted pull shot off Starc for 22.
Latham soon departed for 18 when he was trapped lbw by Lyon in a decision overturned on review.

Watling had luck on 27 when he was given not out after a loud appeal for caught behind off Lyon. Replays showed he had edged the ball but Australia declined to review. He then was dropped on 30 by Steve Smith at slip.
Smith, however, made no mistake when De Grandhomme edged a fierce short ball from Cummins.

Watling’s charmed life ended when he gloved a short delivery from Starc in a decision overturned on review to effectively signal the end of New Zealand’s resistance.
Australia dominated throughout with their formidable first innings total setup by a majestic 143 from Marnus Labuschagne in his third straight ton. Starc, who was sidelined for most of the Ashes series, overwhelmed New Zealand with a nine-wicket haul.

Both teams were without a paceman after debutant Lockie Ferguson, himself a replacement for injured New Zealand spearhead Trent Boult, and Josh Hazlewood suffered leg injuries on the opening two days.

Williamson said Australia deserved the series-opener but lamented his team’s lack of preparation for the vagaries of day-night cricket. Australia, in contrast, had thrashed Pakistan with the pink ball in Adelaide earlier this month.

“There are some parts to the pink ball test that are unique, especially the night time part,” he said. “Australia were outstanding throughout this game. Their pink ball tactics were right on point.”
Williamson said Boult was “looking likely” to take his place in the second Test.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 416
New Zealand 1st innings 166
Australia 2nd innings o/n 167-7
David Warner c (Sub) b Tim Southee 19
Joe Burns c Henry Nicholls b Tim Southee 53
Marnus Labuschagne c Mitchell Santner b Neil Wagner 50
Steven Smith c Jeet Raval b Neil Wagner 16
Matthew Wade c Jeet Raval b Colin de Grandhomme 17
Travis Head c Colin de Grandhomme b Tim Southee 5
Tim Paine b Tim Southee 0
Pat Cummins c BJ Watling b Neil Wagner 13
Mitchell Starc c Ross Taylor b Tim Southee 23
Nathan Lyon Not Out 0
Extras 0b 7lb 6nb 0pen 8w 21
Total (69.1 overs) 217 for 9 decl
Fall of Wickets : 1-44 Warner, 2-131 Labuschagne, 3-148 Burns, 4-154 Smith, 5-160 Head, 6-160 Paine, 7-180 Cummins, 8-189 Wade, 9-217 Starc
Did Not Bat : Hazlewood
Bowling: Tim Southee 21.1 – 6 – 69 – 5 (3w),Colin de Grandhomme 17 – 2- 47 – 1 (1w 3nb),
Neil Wagner 23 – 4 – 59 – 3 (4w 3nb), Mitchell Santner 8 – 0 – 35 – 0.

NEW ZEALAND 2nd innings
Jeet Raval c Nathan Lyon b Mitchell Starc 1
Tom Latham lbw Nathan Lyon 18
Kane Williamson c Matthew Wade b Nathan Lyon 14
Ross Taylor c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 22
Henry Nicholls c Travis Head b Nathan Lyon 21
BJ Watling c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 40
Colin de Grandhomme c Steven Smith b Pat Cummins 33
Mitchell Santner c Travis Head b Pat Cummins 0
Tim Southee c Steven Smith b Nathan Lyon 4
Neil Wagner c Tim Paine b Mitchell Starc 8
Lockie Ferguson Not Out 1
Extras 0b 6lb 1nb 0pen 2w 9
Total (65.3 overs) 171 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-6 Raval, 2-21 Williamson, 3-57 Taylor, 4-57 Latham, 5-98 Nicholls, 6-154 de Grandhomme, 7-154 Watling, 8-154 Santner, 9-163 Wagner, 10-171 Southee
Bowling: Mitchell Starc 14 – 5 – 45 – 4, Pat Cummins 19 – 6 – 31 – 2 (2w 1nb),
Nathan Lyon 22.3 – 3 – 63 – 4,. Travis Head 5 – 1 – 13 – 0.