Australia largely weathered an awkward final hour's batting to start in the box seat when the second day of cricket's pink ball test debut resumes at Adelaide Oval tomorrow.
Having lost the toss, Australia will start at 54 for two, with captain Steve Smith on 24 and Adam Voges on nine.
Swing bowler Trent Boult dismissed in-form David Warner for one, while Doug Bracewell had fellow opener Joe Burns playing on for 14.
However Smith, who survived an lbw referral, and worked hard to put up a defensive wall, looked to have got through a torrid period of swing bowling by stumps.
Earlier New Zealand had been dismissed for an ordinary 202 shortly after the evening dinner break.