Australia has assumed complete control of the first Test against New Zealand thanks to classy centuries from Usman Khawaja and Adam Voges in Wellington.

At stumps, Australia was 6 for 463 with Voges unbeaten on 176 alongside Peter Siddle (29 not out) – a lead of 280.

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The Western Australian batsman now has gone for more than 500 runs since his last Test dismissal, and his live career Test average has passed 100.

Voges and Khawaja (140) combined for a 168-run fourth-wicket partnership, dominating the New Zealand bowlers in a chanceless first session.

Boundaries were the order of the day as Khawaja clubbed 25 fours and Voges 19, with the bowlers unable to build any real pressure until the second session.

It was just before the tea break that Trent Boult re-energised New Zealand with a spectacular double breakthrough, trapping Khawaja LBW before taking an absolute screamer of a return catch to dismiss Mitchell Marsh for a two-ball duck.

Marsh got forward to defend a full ball, but instead spooned it back towards Boult, who plucked it out of the air one-handed inside his own follow-through, cueing passionate, disbelieving celebrations.

The quick wickets meant Voges had to forge a more cautious partnership with new partner Peter Nevill (32), but they proceeded to accumulate steadily in the third session to eventually compile a 96-run partnership

The fall of wicket at 6 for 396 brought Peter Siddle out to join Voges, and the pair made it comfortably through to stumps.

This time round Voges did not offer the Black Caps a chance late in the day like his controversial reprieve on day one, when he shouldered arms to a delivery from Doug Bracewell to be clean bowled, only for umpire Richard Illingworth to wrongly declare it a no-ball.

It was hard yards for all the New Zealand bowlers – Doug Bracewell (0 for 97) toiled without success, Boult’s catch of the day was balanced by an overall return of 2 for 80, while Tim Southee (2 for 76) could not add to his twin breakthroughs in the first three overs of the innings.

Australia’s dominant performance means that the tourists hold a big lead over New Zealand, which was skittled for 183 on day one on a green wicket.