Lyon takes six as Australia thrash New Zealand in first test

Spinner Nathan Lyon took six for 65 as Australia dismissed New Zealand for 196 early on the fourth day of the first test at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Sunday to win the match by an emphatic 172 runs and go 1-0 up in the series.

New Zealand had started the day on 111-3 chasing a daunting victory target of 369 but Lyon sent back Rachin Ravindra for 59 and also removed Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips inside the first hour to claim his 24th test five-wicket haul.

Daryl Mitchell and Scott Kuggeleijn offered some resistance for the seventh wicket but all-rounder Cameron Green, whose 174 not out with the bat in the first innings was instrumental to Australia's success, dismissed the latter for 26.

Mitchell batted on to make 38 despite taking a blow to the helmet from a Green delivery but ran out of partners as the New Zealand tail folded in the face of Lyon and the rest of the Australian attack.

"It was a really good game, we never felt we were that far in front on that wicket, but overall really happy," said Australia captain Pat Cummins.

"Thankfully it spun which, with Nathan in our side, is always a pretty good thing."

The defeat leaves New Zealand with only one win in 24 tests against their neighbours this century ahead of the second and final match in the series in Christchurch starting on Friday.

"Like every game, we'll reflect and look at ways that we can be better in the next one," said New Zealand skipper Tim Southee.

"We'll debrief and obviously move to a different ground, a different surface, a ground we've had a lot of success at."

'GREEN THE DIFFERENCE'

Although Lyon will be lauded for his 10-108 over the match, there was little doubt that Green's brilliant knock in a 10th-wicket partnership of 116 runs with Josh