A hat-trick of Test hundreds for Marnus Labuschagne, sealed with a straight six, belied an otherwise fascinating battle between Australia's batting order and New Zealand's skilful and diligent attack, even as it was shorn of Lockie Ferguson by a calf strain that may cause increasing pain for the visitors the longer the Perth day-night Test goes on.
In front of a crowd of 19,084 who huddled in what shaded areas they could find on a day when temperatures hovered near 40C until the sun went down, New Zealand gave an exceptional account of themselves in the absence of Trent Boult and despite the looming threats of David Warner and Steven Smith.
Both Warner, before lunch, and Smith in a lengthy partnership with the ebullient Labuschagne, had some influence on proceedings. But in each case the tourists' discipline, fitness and commitment to the plans hatched by their captain Kane Williamson ensured that neither Warner nor Smith could get away from them. In Smith's case it meant one of his slowest Test innings, ended in the leg trap that the unstinting Neil Wagner has set for so many international batsmen over a career that has surprised in much the same way Labuschagne's now is.