Phillips, Ravindra boost New Zealand hopes

WELLINGTON, Mar 02 (AFP): Steve Smith pulled off two stunning catches on Saturday to leave Australia with the advantage as New Zealand stumbled early in their pursuit of 369 to win the first Test.
The home side were 111-3 at stumps on day three in Wellington, with Rachin Ravindra unbeaten on an eye-catching 56 and Daryl Mitchell on 12, with the pair having put on 52 in 20.3 overs together.
Nathan Lyon took 2-27 -- aided by some brilliance from Smith in the slips -- to give the accomplished off-spinner six wickets for the match. Lyon shapes as a key figure in preventing New Zealand from scoring the remaining 258 runs they need to win on a Basin Reserve pitch taking turn and bounce.
New Zealand part-time spinner Glenn Phillips earlier capitalised on the conditions, snaring career-best figures of 5-45 as Australia were bundled out for 164 in their second innings.
Lyon was introduced in the sixth over of New Zealand's response and made an immediate impact, having Tom Latham caught behind for eight.
The 36-year-old claimed the key wicket of Kane Williamson soon afterwards for nine, when Smith pouched a sharp catch down low at leg slip.
Smith's second catch was even better, to remove Will Young for 15 off part-time spinner Travis Head, reacting quickly to a fine edge that went low and to his left.
It was the 182nd Test catch from Smith, lifting him to sixth on the all-time list for outfielders -- now 28 catches behind Indian leader Rahul Dravid.
Ravindra, who scored 240 in the first Test against South Africa last month, defied Australia late in the day with a series of aggressive strokes in his 94-ball knock. The 24-year-old struck most of his eight fours through cuts or pulls and swatted Head over mid-wicket for six.