New Zealand v Australia: day three of the first Test – as it happened

New Zealand trail Australia by 201 runs with six wickets remainingAdam Voges top scored for Australia with 239

5.41am GMT

Related: McCullum succumbs as Australia tighten grip on first Test | match report

4.57am GMT

Another dominant display from Australia in Wellington, claiming the morning and evening sessions to stride towards victory in the first Test.

The morning was all about Adam Voges who eventually perished for 239. When he did, Australia led by a mammoth 379. New Zealand fought back in the afternoon, losing only the one wicket between lunch and tea to give some encouragement to home fans that this match might be salvageable. Those thoughts have surely now been extinguished with three wickets in the final session leaving the Black Caps staring at a heavy fourth day defeat.

4.46am GMT

63rd over: New Zealand 178-4 (Nicholls 31)

Just three deliveries of that Marsh over will be bowled as the wicket of McCullum brings the day to its conclusion. Such a sombre end to proceedings at the Basin Reserve. Jubilation for Australia nonetheless who toiled hard with the ball all day.

4.44am GMT

Nooooooooooooooooo! McCullum perishes in the final over the day! A squirty drive just evades Jackson Bird at point and then he misses a straight one from Marsh, fired out LBW. The review fails with the ball tracker showing leg stump would have been firmly struck by Marsh’s delivery.

An ignominious end for McCullum’s international career in Wellington.

4.39am GMT

62nd over: New Zealand 172-3 (Nicholls 31, McCullum 6)

The day is drifting towards its conclusion with the very promising Henry Nicholls dead batting Nathan Lyon’s final over.

4.36am GMT

61st over: New Zealand 172-3 (Nicholls 31, McCullum 6)

Marsh really bending his back for his captain late in the day. Bowling in excess of 140 kph on a flat pitch with an old ball is the kind of thing that will keep the all-rounder in the side while his batting average remains below 25.

4.31am GMT

60th over: New Zealand 171-3 (Nicholls 31, McCullum 6)

Oooh! Lucky lucky Brendon McCullum. Beaten by a Lyon delivery that bounced more than expected, squirting off the outside edge just past the fingertips of the diving Smith at slip. That could have halved tomorrow’s gate receipts at the Basin Reserves had it carried.

4.28am GMT

59th over: New Zealand 168-3 (Nicholls 31, McCullum 3)

Mitchell Marsh to see out the day you’d think from one end, replacing the excellent Hazlewood. Two slips for Marsh against McCullum with a touch of reverse swing on offer for the all-rounder. Nothing much doing though with both batsmen in self-preservation mode knowing there are only four overs left in the day.

4.24am GMT

58th over: New Zealand 167-3 (Nicholls 31, McCullum 2)

It might be Valentine’s Day but Bad Company’s “Feel Like Making Love” is still an odd choice for a cutaway package from the host broadcaster featuring super slow-mo footage of New Zealand’s batsmen.

4.21am GMT

57th over: New Zealand 167-3 (Nicholls 31, McCullum 2)

Nice reverse swing from Hazlewood, cramping McCullum for room, almost forcing a chop-on. He’s setting him up for the one that holds its line or moves away, as he did with Williamson’s dismissal.

4.17am GMT

56th over: New Zealand 166-3 (Nicholls 30, McCullum 2)

How will McCullum play Lyon? The Australian comes over the wicket looking for spin into the right-hander and the retiring Kiwi is watchful in defence, playing every delivery cautiously back down the pitch.

4.14am GMT

55th over: New Zealand 166-3 (Nicholls 30, McCullum 2)

Hazlewood’s pressure forces a false shot from Nicholls. His next flash of the blade is far more decisive, sending a beautiful square drive to the backward point boundary.

#NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/6NeWVNHThd

4.09am GMT

54th over: New Zealand 161-3 (Nicholls 26, McCullum 1)

Rapid maiden from Lyon to the watchful Nicholls.

4.07am GMT

53rd over: New Zealand 161-3 (Nicholls 26, McCullum 1)

Hazlewood immediately recalled by Smith to bowl at McCullum and it nearly pays dividends. The Kiwi skipper throws the bat at his first delivery, toe-ending a slash into the cordon on the bounce. He’s not going to leave the arena wondering is he?

4.03am GMT

52nd over: New Zealand 158-3 (Nicholls 24, McCullum 0)

That shot from Latham must infuriate the New Zealand dressing room. He’d done the hard work taking out the first new ball and looked at ease against Lyon. All of that thrown away in a single brain fade.

4.00am GMT

What is he doing!? Suicidal cricket from Latham, out of nowhere advancing down the pitch and trying to loft Nathan Lyon back over his head. He mistimes the shot which skews off the outside edge of his bat and sails to Usman Khawaja at mid-off. Khawaja had some work to do but he made it look easy.

3.58am GMT

51st over: New Zealand 157-2 (Latham 63, Nicholls 23)

Apparently Peter Siddle has a slight ankle injury, which is not the news Steve Smith wants to hear with so many overs ahead of his attack. With the Victorian off the field, Jackson Bird continues to tie down New Zealand’s batsmen.

3.53am GMT

50th over: New Zealand 156-2 (Latham 62, Nicholls 23)

Into the final hour of play now with just 14 overs remaining. Lyon not causing too many problems for this pair of left-handers at the moment.

3.47am GMT

49th over: New Zealand 153-2 (Latham 61, Nicholls 21)

Smith taking the attritional route to dismissing the remaining eight Kiwi batsmen. Line and length from his seamers with plenty of protection to keep the runs down means firmly struck cover drives like this one from Latham are only worth a single. Bird still on the money this spell.

That's the 150 up for the @BLACKCAPS, two wickets down. Latham 60* & Nicholls 21*: https://t.co/T6tZfh79MF #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/SHHzftoNSu

3.44am GMT

48th over: New Zealand 149-2 (Latham 60, Nicholls 20)

Deary me, what is Nicholls doing? The youngster is batting superbly and nearly needlessly runs himself out, ball-watching instead of backing up with Latham charging towards him. A direct hit from mid-on would have seen Nicholls out by a metre. At the crease he smears another four off Lyon.

3.39am GMT

47th over: New Zealand 143-2 (Latham 59, Nicholls 15)

Tom Latham may have just lost his concentration out there. Jackson Bird forces two play and misses from the opener with deliveries he doesn’t need to be nibbling at. Possibly Bird’s best spell of the match so far.

3.36am GMT

46th over: New Zealand 142-2 (Latham 58, Nicholls 15)

Lyon getting some nice drift and overspin but very little off the surface. Five deliveries are on the money, the sixth is too short and Nicholls rocks back and larrups one through the covers for four. This is a very bright start from Nicholls, taking the attack to Australia without taking unnecessary risks.

3.33am GMT

45th over: New Zealand 137-2 (Latham 57, Nicholls 11)

Bird honouring Hazlewood’s earlier hard work with a similar line and length. Latham is trying to keep the scoreboard moving but there’s precious little for him to attack.

3.30am GMT

44th over: New Zealand 135-2 (Latham 56, Nicholls 10)

Nicholls sweeps Lyon for a very well struck four. the offie responds well with a change of pace nearly beating the young left-hander. A good contest is brewing between the Australian spinner and the young New Zealander keen to assert himself at the crease.

3.26am GMT

43rd over: New Zealand 130-2 (Latham 56, Nicholls 5)

Jackson Bird comes on to give Hazlewood a well earned break after almost an hour-long spell of excellent seam bowling. Bird opens with a maiden that ended with Tom Latham getting suspiciously close to handling the ball.

3.21am GMT

42nd over: New Zealand 130-2 (Latham 56, Nicholls 5)

Lyon rattling through his work, sending down a rapid over for the concession of just one run.

3.19am GMT

41st over: New Zealand 129-2 (Latham 55, Nicholls 5)

A rare errant delivery from Hazlewood and Nicholls cashes in, timing a leg stump half volley for four through mid-on. To be fair, that delivery looks less errant on replay, a genuine in-swinger to the left-hander after slanting a stack across him, almost sneaked through. He repeats the trick later in the over and prompts a full-throated LBW appeal turned down by umpire Kettleborough.

3.14am GMT

40th over: New Zealand 125-2 (Latham 55, Nicholls 1)

Nicholls nearly came a cropper in his desperation to get off the mark, perhaps not realising he was running his sharp single to the predatory David Warner. Lyon getting very little out of this surface.

3.12am GMT

39th over: New Zealand 121-2 (Latham 52, Nicholls 0)

The Glenn McGrath comparisons will only grow if Hazlewood continues to bowl like this. Dot ball after dot ball followed by one that does something a tiny bit unexpected and the best batsman in the opposition is back in the dressing room.

#SteadyTheShip is out... @BLACKCAPS #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/q9NYhyZVWo

3.08am GMT

Massive breakthrough for Australia! That pressure has finally told with Kane Williamson trudging from the crease. Hazlewood put the first delivery of the 39th over in the same spot many of his previous deliveries have landed but this one just nibbled away off the seam, catching the edge of a weak defensive prod.

3.05am GMT

38th over: New Zealand 121-1 (Latham 52, Williamson 22)

First change since the tea break for Australia with Nathan Lyon back into the attack for his fifth of what promises to be many overs this innings. He starts with a confidence building maiden.

3.03am GMT

37th over: New Zealand 121-1 (Latham 52, Williamson 22)

Another parsimonious over from Hazlewood. New Zealand’s run-rate has dropped to just two rpo in the last hour.

2.59am GMT

36th over: New Zealand 120-1 (Latham 51, Williamson 22)

Another tight over from Marsh. Not much happening out there at the moment to describe but it’s top quality Test cricket all the same. Bowlers on their marks, batsmen on their guards. Nip and tuck.

2.54am GMT

35th over: New Zealand 118-1 (Latham 50, Williamson 22)

Excellent fielding from Nathan Lyon at backward point turns a certain four into just a single for Williamson. Hazlewood continuing his probing line and length to both batsmen.

2.50am GMT

34th over: New Zealand 117-1 (Latham 50, Williamson 21)

Half-century for Latham, brought up with an injudicious stroke and some questionable running. Good short ball from Marsh leads to a top-edged pull that lands safely towards deep square leg. It was a safe two, a tight three, and a direct throw from the boundary could have delivered an unlikely wicket.

50 runs for @Tomlatham2 @BLACKCAPS #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/Ow0d4MchOt

2.45am GMT

33rd over: New Zealand 113-1 (Latham 47, Williamson 20)

Hazlewood slanting the ball across the left-handed Latham, tempting the opener to flash one of those off drives he’s so fond of. Against Williamson the line is much tighter and Hazlewood beats the bat twice with deliveries that hold their line rather than tail in.

Quality arvo for some Test cricket! https://t.co/T6tZfh79MF #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/tQkaxVE0pY

2.41am GMT

32nd over: New Zealand 112-1 (Latham 46, Williamson 20)

Mitchell Marsh sharing duties with Hazlewood and he’s shaping the ball in nicely to the right-handed Williamson with a touch of reverse swing. Just the one slip in place for Marsh with catchers preferred in front of the batsman. Controlled maiden for the young all-rounder.

2.37am GMT

31st over: New Zealand 112-1 (Latham 46, Williamson 20)

There will be 33 overs bowled in this session, the first of which by Josh Hazlewood. Latham opens his account after tea with a two through the covers that has the television commentators a touch nervous at how far the left-hander is driving away from his body. Williamson also settles his postprandial nerves with a clip through square leg.

2.29am GMT

Not sure what the point of a cricket session is if we don't all get to discuss the deeper meaning of Adam Voges' average during it. #NZvAUS

2.28am GMT

Remember you can join in the action yourself by emailing me at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@guardian.co.uk or by sending a tweet to @JPHowcroft.

2.27am GMT

Thanks Geoff, a rare Voges-less session for you to narrate there.

It’s been a peculiar day so far. The news of the earthquake near Christchurch has obviously been a distraction, as has the Mount Victoria fire close to the Basin Reserve. Sirens have punctuated the normally sedate sounds of clapping, crowd hum and leather on willow.

2.17am GMT

That’s tea. Geoff Lemon out, Jonathan Howcroft coming in.

It has been New Zealand’s session despite the wicket of Guptill. Although one session does not a Test match make. The other seven have all gone to Australia, meaning they hold a significant advantage in this game.

2.13am GMT

30th over: New Zealand 106-1 (Latham 43, Williamson 17)

Last over before tea, and a mighty appeal from Chesty Siddle as he lands a ball outside Latham’s leg stump then into the pad.

2.09am GMT

29th over: New Zealand 103-1 (Latham 40, Williamson 17)

They have the tea break in sight, the batsmen. Latham plays the patience game some more, except for one full ball that he laces straight to short cover, and the last ball of the over that he pushes straight for one.

2.05am GMT

28th over: New Zealand 102-1 (Latham 39, Williamson 17)

Here’s the hundred up in good time for New Zealand, as Latham does what he’s done all day, working two runs off his pads, this time behind square. Then a single. That’s all that Siddle concedes from another accurate over.

2.03am GMT

27th over: New Zealand 99-1 (Latham 36, Williamson 17)

When Williamson is there, the boundaries come. 17 from 19 balls he goes to, as he cuts Hazlewood behind point.

1.57am GMT

26th over: New Zealand 95-1 (Latham 36, Williamson 13)

Latham finally gets past 35 by driving a single from Siddle straight. Williamson shows how much easier life is for him, hopping up on his toes to punch off the back foot, on the rise, through that cover gap.

1.52am GMT

25th over: New Zealand 91-1 (Latham 35, Williamson 10)

Classical Kane. Bird gets seam movement away from the bat, but he’s banged it in too short, and Williamson cuts with ease for four.

1.48am GMT

24th over: New Zealand 83-1 (Latham 35, Williamson 2)

Williamson gets a single from Siddle’s first ball. Latham hasn’t scored since Guptill was out, and carries on in that vein, seeing out the rest.

1.43am GMT

23rd over: New Zealand 82-1 (Latham 35, Williamson 1)

Australia using their Kevin Pietersen field for Bird bowling to Williamson. Two short midwickets, two slips, gully and point, mid-off, deeper mid-on, fine leg.

1.39am GMT

22nd over: New Zealand 81-1 (Latham 35, Williamson 0)

A wicket maiden for Lyon, he will indeed be the key man today. Kane Williamson to the crease. 350-run stand, anyone?

1.37am GMT

Classical stupidity from Guptill, right out of the MCC Stupid Coaching Manual. Lined up Lyon, tried to slog down the ground, sliced high off the outside edge and eventually Marsh settled under it at mid-on. He’s only made one 50 in 16 innings against Australia, and that approach tells you why.

1.35am GMT

21st over: New Zealand 81-0 (Latham 35, Guptill 45)

The Marsh experiment is over, Bird back on, and he tightens things up with a one-run over.

1.32am GMT

20th over: New Zealand 80-0 (Latham 35, Guptill 44)

Nice ball from Lyon has Latham defending, then good footwork from Latham sees him go back and cut but straight to point. Good battle here. Latham flicks two runs through midwicket to close the over.

1.28am GMT

19th over: New Zealand 78-0 (Latham 33, Guptill 44)

Marsh just can’t stem the flow. A couple of singles, most of his over gone, tidy thus far, then he dishes up the wide one to finish and Guptill puts it through point for four.

1.24am GMT

18th over: New Zealand 72-0 (Latham 32, Guptill 39)

Another probing over from Lyon, another careful approach from the New Zealand batsmen, another pair of singles garnered.

1.22am GMT

17th over: New Zealand 70-0 (Latham 31, Guptill 38)

Marsh to try repairing his figures. The full ball on the pads doesn’t help, Latham mistiming his flick somewhat so that it goes through fine leg rather than midwicket, and takes two.

1.15am GMT

16th over: New Zealand 67-0 (Latham 28, Guptill 38)

Lyon on, and you imagine he’ll be the key given the lack of swing or movement or penetration for the quicks.

1.13am GMT

15th over: New Zealand 64-0 (Latham 27, Guptill 36)

Accidental boundary but safe from Latham, an attempted square drive that took an edge, but the angled bat meant that it ran all along the ground and split the two slips.

1.04am GMT

14th over: New Zealand 53-0 (Latham 20, Guptill 32)

No 13-run over for Siddle here, however, as Guptill ducks a bouncer, defends a couple, then tries a pull that nearly gets him out, top-edges but landing safely as deep square leg came in.

1.02am GMT

13th over: New Zealand 51-0 (Latham 19, Guptill 31)

Michelle Marsh will get a turn with the orb now, and he’s been a highly effective operator in recent times.

12.54am GMT

12th over: New Zealand 42-0 (Latham 15, Guptill 26)

Siddle trying to find his groove, and looks better to Guptill with four dot balls on the off stump. When he tries the short ball, Guptill times the pull shot well to the deep for one.

12.52am GMT

11th over: New Zealand 41-0 (Latham 15, Guptill 25)

Smashed again, Guptill facing Hazlewood this time, and the first of the over gets a full-blooded drive in the air a couple of metres past a diving mid-on.

12.48am GMT

10th over: New Zealand 34-0 (Latham 13, Guptill 20)

Siddle continuing, Guptill eases two runs to start the over, through cover, then gets a single on Khawaja’s misfield at mid-off. Easy run on a defensive stroke. Latham sees out the rest.

12.41am GMT

9th over: New Zealand 31-0 (Latham 13, Guptill 17)

Hazlewood’s Terminator eyes have scanned the reams of incoming data, and re-triangulated his position. His line creeps in a few inches, and Latham starts having to play. Just defending and ducking, though, and it’s another maiden.

12.40am GMT

8th over: New Zealand 31-0 (Latham 13, Guptill 17)

Swat! That’s the Guptill we know in coloured clothes, getting his first ball from Siddle full on the stumps, and whacking it over midwicket with a full swing of the bat for four.

12.37am GMT

7th over: New Zealand 18-0 (Latham 12, Guptill 5)

Very wide from Hazlewood to start the over, and wide to continue. The only ball he pitches straight is turned square for a single by Latham. Guptill gets on strike, ducks the bouncer and leaves the wide.

12.30am GMT

6th over: New Zealand 17-0 (Latham 11, Guptill 5)

Bird is more interested in making Guptill play, a tighter line that Guptill keeps out. Another maiden, but a different type. Ah, the myriad variance of cricket.

12.28am GMT

5th over: New Zealand 17-0 (Latham 11, Guptill 5)

Love it. Five balls angled across the left-hander, one bouncer. Five leaves, one duck. Latham carries on, and Hazlewood clocks a maiden.

12.27am GMT

4th over: New Zealand 17-0 (Latham 11, Guptill 5)

A couple of short balls from Bird before Guptill gets off the mark, knocking a single square of the wicket. Latham turns three through square.

12.20am GMT

3rd over: New Zealand 8-0 (Latham 8, Guptill 0)

Latham getting away alright. A couple of runs off the pads, where most batsmen like to receive the ball, then a boundary from a mistimed pull. Hazlewood is the offended, though not offending, bowler.

12.18am GMT

2nd over: New Zealand 2-0 (Latham 2, Guptill 0)

Hello collected scoundrels. It is indeed I, the Geoff of the Lemons, for your cricketing correspondence needs. New Zealand have a mighty job ahead of them. However, set into the bitumen footway around the ground are two monuments to world-record sixth-wicket stands, each worth somewhere around 350 runs, scored by current players Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum, each in partnership with the wicketkeeper BJ Watling. And each, if I’m correct without checking, coming in the third innings. So there is precedent, and there is hope.

11.31pm GMT

That first session was a necessary set-up for the important stuff, which will follow after lunch. New Zealand are in big trouble, though they know how to save a match on this ground and the pitch is in their favour. If they can bat seven sessions, they might have a chance!

Thanks for your company, Geoff Lemon will be with you after lunch. Bye!

11.31pm GMT

1st over: New Zealand 1-0 (Latham 1, Guptill 0)

Josh Hazlewood will bowl the solitary over before lunch. His first ball shapes back into Latham, who is only saved by an inside-edge. That’s a little ominous for New Zealand. The remainder of the over is harmless enough, however, and that’s lunch!

@robsmyth0 hey Rob I get the feeling the cricket is interfering with our tweet fest. Hope we can get back on course. pic.twitter.com/PHY5Y6TTym

11.21pm GMT

Australia lead by 379 on first innings, and New Zealand will have one over to survive before lunch. I’m actually a bit disappointed in Voges. He could easily have cut this run going, and given us stattos something to live for, but put the team first and tried to slog as many runs as possible. His Test average is now a dispiriting 97.46.

11.17pm GMT

I always wanted to be Walter Cronkite, and now I get to report on my own JFK moment: Adam Voges has been dismissed. The ball after dumping another six down the ground, he gave a return catch to the bowler Mark Craig. It’s ends a remarkable innings and an astonishing streak: 614 runs in three innings between dismissals.

11.15pm GMT

154th over: Australia 556-9 (Voges 233, Bird 3) “I’ve just worked it out about Voges,” says Robert Wilson. “He’s really not joking. Say what you like, but little beats a humourless batsman.” New Zealand need their own Eknath Solkar.

Voges v Craig:
82 balls, 78 runs (SR 96.34).
0s: 44
1s: 21
2s: 5
3s: 2
4s: 9
6s: 1#NZvAUS #CricVIz

11.13pm GMT

153rd over: Australia 555-9 (Voges 232, Bird 3) Voges swings Mark Craig for the most emphatic six over midwicket. He has now scored more than 600 runs since he was last dismissed in a Test. That is entirely ridiculous.

@robsmyth0 Rob I've been there too, what's your number 3? This one is Grimsey Island, in the Arctic Circle. Enjoy!! pic.twitter.com/k3mgRNozpr

11.08pm GMT

152nd over: Australia 548-9 (Voges 225, Bird 3) Voges glides Anderson for four to move to choochoochoo, I’m not sure footage exists of his last dismissal in Test cricket, so long ago did it occur.

In other news, here’s my erstwhile colleague Paul Cockburn. “Tim Barry: Only 30 minutes from the Basin here, also stunning. I guess we both got a little sun stroke yesterday, because I am also bunking off until lunch.”

11.04pm GMT

151st over: Australia 541-9 (Voges 217, Bird 3) Voges, on the charge, smears a low full toss from Bracewell over square leg for four. He is slogging at everything, a disappointing dereliction of his responsibility to stattos everywhere, and is almost bowled by a delivery that misses off stump by this much. Actually it wasn’t even that much.

Hi @robsmyth0 sounds like you need some company I'm reading in northern Iceland all excited about Voges' numbers! pic.twitter.com/Lr8vtDfxvX

10.59pm GMT

150th over: Australia 536-9 (Voges 212, Bird 3) Voges turns down a single off Anderson’s first ball, but takes one off the fifth. That’s it.

“HELLO MY GOOD FRIEND,” writes Mac Millings. “NOW YOU ARE RICH, PLEASE FOWARD SWIFT PAYMENT OF 2.5 OZ OF DIGNITY TO MY SON, WHO, IN QUICK SUCCESSION, PEED HIS PANTS ON THE SMALL WORLD RIDE AT DISNEY WORLD AND HAD TO SIT IN IT FOR 10 MINUTES AS THE BOAT SAILED ITS COURSE AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 0.002 MPH, AND THEN PROCEEDED TO MAXIMISE A FART AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY. THE “HE’S JUST LIKE HIS DAD” COMMENTS WERE UNWELCOME, PREDICTABLE, AND ENTIRELY FAIR.”

10.55pm GMT

149th over: Australia 535-9 (Voges 212, Bird 3) Bird squirts a drive not far short of point, and then times a nice shot square on the off side for two.

“Hi Rob - by my reckoning the Australian top five now have a joint average of over 300,” says Ivan Dowling. “Not sure how to demonstrate that this is a record but surely it must be?” The Invincibles might run them close. Didn’t Harvey have a huge average at one point? Ah but maybe he was batting at No6, I can’t remember.

10.51pm GMT

148th over: Australia 533-9 (Voges 212, Lyon 1) “Non-cricketing film review,” begins Andy Bradshaw. “Deadpool was excellent, funny, snarky, irreverent & taking the piss out of all other Marvel comic book films.” Yeah but did it have an 11-year-old girl using the bad word like Kick-Ass?

10.50pm GMT

That is a stunning return catch from Corey Anderson. Lyon pushed the ball back towards him, and Anderson swooped dramatically to grab the ball just off the ground.

10.45pm GMT

147th over: Australia 531-8 (Voges 212, Lyon 3) A remarkable shot from Voges, who walks down the track to chip Bracewell over midwicket for six! He has now scored 587 runs since he was last dismissed in Test cricket.

“I’m reading … Gorgeous (and I mean not a cloud in the sky, light breeze, beer in the fridge gorgeous) day here about an hour north of Wellington,” says Tim Barry. “Keeping out of the sun today, after a long day at the Basin yesterday. Hope to see a repeat of the heroics of a couple of years ago,would scupper any work plans for tomorrow if B Mc is churning out another triple century. yesterday lunch time the wicket looked like you’d bat for days on it. It is so good that you can get onto the ground at lunch time with a few thousand others and have an impromptu game, look at the wicket, chat to the ground staff etc.” For a split-second I thought you were addressing me as Gorgeous.”

10.41pm GMT

146th over: Australia 525-8 (Voges 206, Lyon 3) “Yes other people are reading,” says John Rusjan. “Would you like to share that money?” I bet all $2.5m on Adam Voges to be dismissed between 0 and 199.

10.38pm GMT

145th over: Australia 522-8 (Voges 205, Lyon 1) Lyon checks a drive back towards the bowler Bracewell, who can’t quite reach far enough to his left to take the catch. There are a few deliveries stopping in the pitch. “I’m reading Rob,” says Teddy Hempstead. “Lyon will be out for between 5-15 and sadly Bird for a duck. Have a nice night.”

10.31pm GMT

144th over: Australia 521-8 (Voges 204, Lyon 1) The offspinner Mark Craig comes into the attack. Voges works consecutive twos to move to 199, plays a couple of defensive strokes to remind everyone that this game is being played on his terms, and then wallops a full toss for four to reach his second Test 200! Incredible stuff.

Voges has played Tests against three countries. He averages 542 (sic) v WI, 119 v NZ and 28 v Eng. Needs to work on his consistency.

10.27pm GMT

143rd over: Australia 512-8 (Voges 195, Lyon 1) New Zealand are giving Voges a single off the first ball of each over, which he’s happy to take. Lyon edges the last ball low towards slip, where McCullum swoops to take the catch and immediately signals that he doesn’t know whether it carried. Replays show that it bounced a fraction in front of him.

Anyone reading? This is the only email I’ve had so far. “HELLO MY GOOD FRIEND,” writes Barclays Bank London United Kingdom. “NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT OF ( $2.5M USD)THROUGH SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER ASIA PACIFIC, THIS CARD CENTER WILL SEND YOU AN ATM CARD WHICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD.”

10.21pm GMT

142nd over: Australia 511-8 (Voges 194, Lyon 1) Lyon calls a ludicrous single to deep point, and Voges is well short of his ground when the throw whistles past the stumps.

10.17pm GMT

141st over: Australia 508-8 (Voges 192, Lyon 0) The new batsman is Nathan Lyon. These two are the undismissables: Voges has been not out in a third of his Test innings, Lyon in almost half of his. Batsmen are usually criticised for playing for a not-out. In this case I’d be offended if Voges did slog one up in the air. A statgasm like this doesn’t come along very often, and he has a responsibility to keep it going as long as possible.

10.15pm GMT

Hazlewood slams a drive towards short extra, where Southee takes a really smart catch. Good captaincy from Brendon McCullum to have the man on the drive.

10.13pm GMT

140th over: Australia 507-7 (Voges 191, Hazlewood 8) Voges muscles a pull for four off Boult. Average watch: he’s moved up to 101.58. We’ve seen other players have brilliant starts to their Test career before regressing to the mean, like Jimmy Adams and Mike Hussey, but this is off the reservation.

10.08pm GMT

139th over: Australia 502-7 (Voges 186, Hazlewood 8) That was Doug Bracewell’s second wicket of the innings. He has figures of one for 107. Hazlewood, the new batsman, gets off the mark by DavidGowering a drive through extra cover for four, and he edges four more to take Australia past 500.

10.04pm GMT

Siddle falls one short of a deserved half-century. It was a good delivery from Bracewell that came back off the seam and maybe stopped n the pitch. Siddle checked his stroke and looped an easy catch to mid-on.

10.03pm GMT

138th over: Australia 494-6 (Voges 186, Siddle 49) Siddle mis-pulls a short ball from Boult, but it loops safely over the head of Craig at midwicket. Boult has bowled excellently this morning, mixing yorkers, bouncers and slower balls. This is a very flat pitch, so New Zealand do at least have a chance of saving the game.

9.58pm GMT

137th over: Australia 493-6 (Voges 186, Siddle 48) Bracewell replaces Southee, who has been disappointing in this match. Voges creams a couple of cover drives that are well fielded; then, as he takes a single, Siddle shows him how to pierce the field with a quite glorious drive through mid-off for four. That shot was almost laughably good for a lower-order batsman.

9.54pm GMT

136th over: Australia 487-6 (Voges 185, Siddle 43) Siddle reaches for a wide slower ball from Boult, timing it nicely through the covers for four, and follows up with consecutive twos. He is approaching his highest Test score of 51.

9.50pm GMT

135th over: Australia 479-6 (Voges 185, Siddle 35) Replays confirm that delivery from Boult was indeed sliding down, though not by much. Voges cuts Southee through the covers for a couple more. There’s a tendency to think of Voges as a bit of an accumulator, but his strike rate in Tests is a very acceptable 59. (By way of comparison, Steve Smith’s is 57.) The rate of scoring means Australia still have loads of time in this match, and don’t really need to hurry towards a declaration.

9.46pm GMT

134th over: Australia 476-6 (Voges 183, Siddle 34) Voges flicks around an attempted yorker from Boult, prompting a big LBW shout. But with Boult bowling around the wicket, it was probably just going down the leg side. Boult has started superbly, as if personally affronted by this match situation.

9.42pm GMT

133rd over: Australia 474-6 (Voges 181, Siddle 34) In his brilliant book last year, Kevin Pietersen said that, when you are in the zone, you don’t see the ball big so much as see it slow. It’s a brilliant observation – at least I think it is; how would I know, my top score Is 22. But if it is true, Adam Voges can almost freeze time right now, so slowly is he seeing it.

Voges has scored 556 runs between Test dismissals, breaking the record set by Sachin Tendulkar. Which is as good a contrived segue as any when it comes to plugging this superb new anthology: Tendulkar in Wisden, edited by Anjali Doshi. And you can also buy the newish Benaud in Wisden, edited by some clown, should you wish.

9.38pm GMT

132nd over: Australia 467-6 (Voges 179, Siddle 29) It’s easy to drift along in a situation like this, but wrapping up the tail – even when you are facing a huge deficit – can be the start of something, as England showed at the Gabba in 2010-11. Trent Boult roughs up Peter Siddle in an excellent first over. One delivery takes the glove and lands safely on the leg side; another smacks Siddle on the helmet as he turns his back on the ball. He’s fine.

9.34pm GMT

131st over: Australia 464-6 (Voges 177, Siddle 29) Tim Southee starts the third day, bowling to Adam Voges, who moves to 177 with a single to leg. There’s a new Vogue Exhibition in London this week, and you know exactly what contrived pun is coming next, don’t you. But this has been a Voges exhibition. Like Chris Rogers before him, he is a brilliant advert for picking older batsmen.

8.57pm GMT

Hello and welcome to live over-by-over coverage of Adam Voges’s Test average. It currently stands at 100.33, the highest in Test history unless you are in Team Ganteaume. His 176 not out has pretty much ensured that Australia will win this Test.

We should have known it was going to be like this. Whoever won the toss was always likely to have a big advantage in the first Test, and after two days Australia are in complete control: they lead by 280 runs with four first-innings wickets remaining. But it would be wrong to ascribe all this to the toss. Australia have also played by far the better cricket, popping the Baz Farewell Party with a performance of intimidating authority.

Related: Voges cashes in as Australia forge huge lead against New Zealand | match report

1.05am GMT

Rob will be in shortly, to take you through all the action from day three of the first Test, but in the interim here’s how things stood at stumps on day two.

Spoiler alert - it doesn’t make for easy reading for home fans.

Related: Voges cashes in as Australia forge huge lead against New Zealand | match report

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