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Brisbane: New Zealand had steadied their innings at 176/5 at stump after Australia's inexperienced bowlers threatened to skittle them with three quick wickets around lunch on the opening day of the first Test on Thursday.
Consistent rain throughout the afternoon at the Gabba has forced an early end to day one of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand with the visitors reaching 5-176 from 51 overs.
Bad light sent the players from the ground 10 minutes before the tea break was due and when the rain set in during the interval it never looked like clearing.
The visitors had crumbled in the first session, faltering to 4-94, but they lost just one wicket in the after lunch with former captain Daniel Vettori (45 not out) and Dean Brownlie (32 not out) steadying the ship with an 80-run stand.
Play will commence half an hour early for the remainder of the Test at 9:30am (10:30am AEDT) local time.
Mitchell Starc is the sole multiple-wicket-taker for the hosts and has looked the most threatening, while Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon have all sent down tidy spells and have one wicket apiece.
Brendon McCullum came out of the gates with three boundaries in the first over, but when his aggressive opening knock came to an end at 34, the Kiwis were momentarily at a loss.
Captain Ross Taylor (14) and Jesse Ryder (six) had been in tremendous touch in the Black Caps' tour match against Australia A, but had no answers against the seam and spin in a lively first session.
Impressive debutant Starc had both his wickets in the same fashion, with right-hander McCullum picking David Warner out at point and then left-handed Ryder mimicking his team-mate with the same cut shot shortly after.
Vettori came to the wicket, bringing his usual air of calm, but after he took his side to 100 with a nudge into the covers, he almost lost Brownlie in the same over.
Siddle had the ball in the slot, and in near identical fashion to his first wicket, the batsman pushed forward and edged at a comfortable height, but this time the ball went looping to Michael Clarke, who misread the height and spilt the simplest of chances.
Brownlie and Vettori took the team total past 150 and then in the 44th over a nudge for a single took their partnership to 50.
Form quick Ben Cutting was the unlucky man to miss out from the Australian 12, while young left-armer Trent Boult has drinks duties for the visitors.
Brief scores
New Zealand 5 for 176 (Vettori 45*, Brownlie 32*, Starc 2-52)
