Aussies smash Kiwis as Warner slams twin tons

Joe Burns smashed two sixes off three balls to reach his maiden Test century and David Warner completed back-to-back tons as Australia amassed a huge lead over New Zealand in the first Gabba Test on Saturday. Burns, playing in only his third Test match but his first as opener, blasted spinner Mark Craig for two sixes over long off to race from 88 to 100 in three balls.

When bad light stopped play, Australia had stretched their overall lead to 503 runs at 264 for four and an overnight declaration imminent with first-innings centurion Usman Khawaja not out nine and Adam Voges on one.

Burns, who was finally out for 129 off 123 balls with 14 fours and four sixes, thrilled his home Queensland crowd with some prodigious hitting to reach his first Test ton after three consecutive Test half-centuries.

Warner sprinted to his second century of the match with 116 before he gave his wicket away with a switch hit off spinner Mark Craig. It was only the third time that a batsman has scored a Test century in both innings on three separate occasions along with Ricky Ponting and Sunil Gavaskar.

It was also the first time any opening pair had compiled 150-run plus partnerships in each innings of a Test match. It was remarkable scoring by the Test rookie and even relegated the usually rapid-scoring Warner to a supporting role against the under-strength Kiwi bowling attack, which was minus pace spearhead Tim Southee, off the field with a back injury.

It was the fourth century of the Test after Warner (163) and Khawaja (174)in Australia's first innings and Kane Williamson's defiant 140 in New Zealand's innings.

Skipper Steve Smith completed a low scoring match when he was given out forone to a close-to-the-ground catch by Williamson off Trent Boult that needed a lengthy umpire's review.

The Australians earlier dismissed the Black Caps for 317 with Williamson the last man out.

Williamson's defiant innings ended when he was caught behind, giving Mitchell Starc his fourth wicket of the match. He was congratulated by the Australian players as he left the field after his 178-ball knock speckled with 24 fours. It was Williamson's 11th Test century and one of his best after centuries against Sri Lanka, Pakistan,West Indies, England, India, Bangladesh and South Africa in his five years of playing Test cricket.

The 25-year-old right-hander also became only the fourth Kiwi to score a Test hundred at the Gabba along with John Reid, Martin Crowe and Jacob Oram, with his 140 marking the second highest score by a New Zealander at the ground behind Crowe's 188. (AFP)

Scoreboard
Australia 1st innings 556-4 declared (U. Khawaja 174, D. Warner 163) 

New Zealand 1st innings 317  (M Starc 4 for 57) 

Australia 2nd innings

J. Burns c Taylor b Craig  	       129
D. Warner c Boult b Craig   	       116
U.. Khawaja not out			09  
S. Smith c Williamson b Boult		01
M. Marsh c McCullum b Craig	 	02
A. Voges not out			01 
Extras (lb1, w1, nb4)	 		06
Total (4 wickets)		       264 

Fall of wickets: 1-237 (Warner), 2-254 (Burns)
		 3-258 (Smith), 4-263 (Marsh)
Bowling: Boult 8-0-61-1
	 Bracewell 11-1-63-0(4nb)
	 Neesham 9-0-61-0 (1w)
	 Craig 14-0-78-3