PERTH, Australia (AP) — New Zealand was facing heavy defeat in the opening cricket test after it slumped to 31-2 at lunch in the face of a record 467 target on the fourth day at the Perth Stadium.

After fast bowler Mitchell Starc made early inroads by dismissing opener Jeet Raval (1), offspinner Nathan Lyon claimed the prized wicket of Kane Williamson (14) with his first delivery of the innings when Matthew Wade at shot leg caught the New Zealand skipper.

Lyon, who dismissed Tim Southee to end the New Zealand first innings was on a hat-trick across two innings, but Ross Taylor (5 not out) comfortably negotiated the delivery.

Opener Tom Latham (10 not out) and Taylor will resume after the break as New Zealand look to bat out 153 overs across five sessions to stop Australia from taking a 1-0 lead in the three-test series.

Australia declared its second innings on 217-9. Resuming the day on 167-7, the home side lost the overnight batsmen Pat Cummins (13) and Wade (17) in the space of six balls.

Starc then smashed 23 runs off 21 balls with four boundaries before he was caught by Taylor at third man as the left hander when skipper Tim Paine declared.

Australia lasted 53 minutes on surface that is beginning to play up and down with the cracks widening and putting doubt on the batsmen’s mind.

Wade, the last recognised batsmen, took a painful blow on his hand when he fended a Neil Wagner delivery that bounced disconcertingly.

Swing bowler Southee claimed Starc’s wicket to finish with 5-69 — his ninth five-wicket haul in his 70th test — and a match-haul of 9-162. Leftarm swing bowler Wagner took 3-59 for a match return of 7-151.

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