Despite a significant late wobble, Australia is well on top of the first Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve, ending day two with a 217-run lead and eight wickets remaining.

Thirteen wickets fell on a dramatic day in Wellington as Australia took a first innings lead of 204 runs into their second innings after the tourists added 104 runs to their overnight score thanks to a record 10th wicket partnership between Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood, before bowling out the Black Caps for just 179 runs in 43.1 overs.

Australia then faced a tough eight overs before the close with the bat, losing the wickets of Steve Smith (0) and Marnus Labuschagne (2) to the resurgent Tim Southee, while nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was left hobbling after being struck on the hip.

Lyon even survived being dropped on 5 by Southee off the final ball of the day, and will resume with Usman Khawaja (5) on day three with Australia on 2-13.

Australia came into the second day with the game very much in the balance — but after a stunningly dominant day, the scales had very much tipped in favour of the visitors.

The die was case in the extended morning session, with Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green's record 116-run 10th wicket partnership was absolutely dominant, blasting a worryingly impotent New Zealand bowling attack to all corners.

Wayward and with no clear plan, New Zealand's bowlers meekly surrendered any initiative it may have carried from its dogged day one performance, allowing the last pair of batters to dictate field placements and control the narrative.

Only Matt Henry's five-fa — his second in Tests — provided any light for the hosts' beleaguered bowling attack. 

Green breezed to a maiden Test 150 by mixing solid defence and strike management with a furious blitzkrieg of sixes, while Hazlewood seemed oblivious to his standing as a number 11 batter by unfurling a number of sumptuous shots to the rope.

The 62 balls he faced for his 22 runs was the quick bowler's longest innings by balls since 2016 — and his highest score since the same.

Green, meanwhile, finally translated his excellent batting form for his State in the Sheffield Shield — he came into this Test following an unbeaten 103 for WA in Hobart — with a meaningful contribution for his country that may well set up victory.

That victory looked all the more certain after six overs of utter madness from the Kiwi batters to open their innings.

Mitch Starc's extra pace accounted for Tom Latham (5), who simply could not react in time to sure up his defences and played onto his off stump.

Kane Williamson came into the match as arguably the best batter in the world, fresh from three centuries in his last four Test innings.

But his dismissal was comical, crashing into Will Young when attempting a single to be run out by a wonderful throw from Marnus Labuschagne without scoring.

The former Black Caps skipper looked as furious as Starc looked stunned by the catastrophic collision — the Aussie quick almost collateral damage from the pin-balling batters.

With Rachin Ravindra spooning a drive to Nathan Lyon at backward point to also depart for a duck, New Zealand lost three wickets without scoring to fall to 3-13. 

Daryl Mitchell stuck around for 37 balls, finally breaking through for a boundary before edging Cummins behind for 11.

Young fell the very next ball, strangled down the leg side by Mitch Marsh for 9 off 50 balls as the Kiwis collapsed to 5-29.

New Zealand needed a response, and got it via Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips, who counter-attacked after the tea break in a much-needed partnership.

The pair took the Black Caps beyond 100 and saw Phillips to his half-century, before Lyon removed Blundell for 33. Scott Kuggeleijn followed two balls later, recklessly holing out in the deep for a duck.