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New Zealand v Australia, 1st Test, Day 3: NZ chip into Australia's massive lead

Brendon McCullum raises his bat to the crowd as he leaves Wellington for the last time as a batsman

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls helped reduce New Zealand's first innings deficit to 201 runs by reaching 178-4 at the end of the third day of the first Test against Australia after Adam Voges' double-century had put the visitors in total control.

Latham scored 63, while Nicholls was 31 not out at the end of the day. Martin Guptill had been dismissed for 45 following an 81-run opening stand with Latham at the Basin Reserve.

Guptill's downfall, however, could be considered a wasted opportunity as he had looked well set before his slog against off-spinner Nathan Lyon was caught by a diving Mitchell Marsh at extra cover.

The only other opportunity Australia's bowlers had before tea on a pitch that has become a good batting surface was when wicketkeeper Peter Nevill dropped Latham on 30 despite getting both hands to the nick off Marsh.

A 40-run partnership between Latham and Kane Williamson ended when the New Zealand batting stalwart edged Josh Hazlewood to Nevill. Latham was the next to go as he became Lyon's second victim with some assistance from Usman Khawaja, who did brilliantly to hold on to the catch.

McCullum came in to bat in international cricket for the last time at Wellington and the fans would have hoped to watch their hero steady the sinking Kiwi ship and take them out of troubled waters. However, that was not to be as Mitchell Marsh wrapped the New Zealand captain in front. Despite a review, McCullum had to go and that was the last action of Day 3.

Australia were dismissed about 15 minutes before the lunch break for 562, with Voges the last man out for 239. Australia held a lead of 379 runs.

Voges had earlier brought up his double-century by lofting Mark Craig to the mid-wicket fence for his 28th boundary shortly before the drinks break.

The late-blooming Voges, who was 35 when he made his debut in the Caribbean last June, has scored 1,267 runs in a bountiful test career to date, boasting an average of 97.46.

The visitors resumed on Sunday on 463-6 with Voges on 176 and Peter Siddle 29 not out.

The pair added 31 runs before Doug Bracewell, who had bowled Voges for seven late on the first day only to be wrongly called for a no-ball, broke the 99-run partnership when he had Siddle caught at mid-on by Corey Anderson for 49.

He then had Josh Hazlewood caught at short cover by Tim Southee for eight, before Anderson produced a brilliant caught and bowled to dismiss Lyon for three.

The second match of the two-test series is in Christchurch from Feb. 20.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 183 & 178/4, 62.3 overs (Latham 63, Guptill 45; Lyon 2/35) trail Australia 562/10, 154.2 overs (Voges 239, Khawaja 140, Siddle 49; Anderson 2/79, Southee 2/87) by 201 runs.

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