WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Usman Khawaja made 140 and Adam Voges approached his third century in consecutive test innings as Australia reached 330-5 at tea Saturday, the second day of the first test against New Zealand.
Voges was 91 not out at tea, maintaining the rich streak of form which saw him post 269 not out and 106 not out in his most recent tests against the West Indies. He and Khawaja added 168 runs for the third wicket which helped Australia to a lead of 147 at tea after New Zealand's dismissal on day one for 183.
New Zealand made a slight dent in Australia's powerful position when Trent Boult achieved a double breakthrough with the second new ball, dismissing Khawaja and Mitch Marsh within three deliveries.
Voges guided Australia to tea without further loss and with support from wicketkeeper Peter Nevill who was 15 not out.
Khawaja and Voges had come together late on the first day and steered Australia to 147-3 by stumps, then through the first session and a half on day two, to 299-3, when Khawaja was finally removed lbw by Trent Boult.
Khawaja was struck above the knee roll as he jumped in his defensive shot and it seemed the ball might have passed over the stumps. He didn't refer the decision to the television umpire.
March survived a television review when struck on the pad first ball, but was out on the next delivery when Boult took a brilliant return catch.
Voges' experience was telling as he prevented New Zealand turning those quick wickets into momentum. While the run-rate dropped he denied the hosts an additional wicket.
Much of the credit for Australia's strong position belonged to Khawaja, who has four centuries in his past four tests.
He scored 174 and 121 in the first and second tests against New Zealand in Australia in November, then 144 in the Boxing Day test against the West Indies in Melbourne.
His innings lasted 347 minutes and contained 25 fours, or exactly 100 runs from boundaries.
Khawaja continued his outstanding run of form in all formats. He averaged 126 in five tests last year and was productive when he was recalled to the Australia team for the recent one-day series in New Zealand, making scores of 50 and 44.
He also scored two centuries during Australia's Big Bash Twenty20 league to dismiss perceptions that he was suited only to the longer forms of the game.
