Australia bat New Zealand into the ground

Warner, Khawaja score centuries to take hosts to 389-2 at stumps on day one

BRISBANE: David Warner hit his 13th Test century while Usman Khawaja claimed his maiden ton as Australia took an iron grip of the first Test on day one against New Zealand on Thursday.

The outspoken Warner, who had derided the Kiwis as “Mr Nice Guys” and vowed an aggressive approach, lived up to his promise with his second-highest Test score against an underwhelming New Zealand attack at the Gabba.

With Warner plundering 163 runs off 224 balls, the Australians pounded the ragged Black Caps to go to stumps at 389-2 — their highest first-day score in Brisbane.

Khawaja also cashed in, reaching his first Test century just before the close and finishing the day unbeaten on 102 with skipper Steve Smith not out on 41.

“We knew if we could grind away and bring their strike bowlers back it’d make it a lot easier at the end of the day and I think the scoreboard reflects how well we actually played,” said Warner.

The left-hander was finally out to one of his few false strokes of the day, but it took Ross Taylor’s marvellous one-handed catch above his head at slip off James Neesham to send him back.

Pakistan-born Khawaja deposited a huge down payment on a regular Test spot with a silky hundred after a stop-start nine-Test career since making his debut against England in Sydney in 2011.

It was a bold statement from Smith’s unfamiliar Australian team, after the post-Ashes departures of former skipper Michael Clarke along with stalwarts Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris.

“Obviously, it’s a tough day of cricket. Two very good innings that hurt us,” said Kiwi wicketkeeper BJ Watling. “We’re obviously not in the ideal situation. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2015.

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