BRISBANE, Nov 20: Teenaged pace bowler Tim Southee claimed four wickets to help New Zealand take a resounding start on the opening day of the first Test against Australia who were dismissed for a paltry 214 in their first innings at the Gabba here on Thursday.

Southee snared four wickets to put the tourists on top while Australia, despite Michael Clarke’s fighting 98, struggled after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori chose to field first on a green-tinged pitch.

Openers Aaron Redmond and Jamie How survived five overs from Brett Lee and Stuart Clark as New Zealand went to stumps at seven for no wicket.

Australia, expecting to regroup after losing the recent Test series in India, were reduced to 23 for three with the impressive 19-year-old Southee getting rid of Matthew Hayden (8), Simon Katich (10) and captain Ricky Ponting (4). Off-cutters accounted for the two left-handed openers, while Ponting got a leading edge when he tried to work through leg off a ball that bounced and moved away late.

Michael Hussey and Clarke survived a torrid period against an otherwise relatively unheralded attack, adding 73 for the fourth wicket when Hussey was trapped leg-before-wicket to Chris Martin for 35.

Andrew Symonds, returning after a few months of turmoil, hit three consecutive fours off Grant Elliott until he was caught behind by Brendon McCullum off Iain O’Brien for 26.

But once Hussey and Symonds departed Australia’s lower order struggled with only Clarke holding together the faltering innings while wickets tumbled around him. He added 54 with the last two batsmen, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark, but his resistance when Jesse Ryder bowled him to complete a fine day for the Kiwis.

Clarke’s near five-hour vigil, during which he negotiated 217 balls, featured nine boundaries.

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