By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Wellington, March 20 NZPA - New Zealand were kicking themselves for letting Australia off the hook as two batsmen with big points to prove snatched control of the first cricket test here yesterday.

With debutant Brent Arnel removing openers Simon Katich (79) and Phil Hughes (20), BJ Watling running out Ricky Ponting for 41 and a Chris Martin special to nick out Michael Hussey for four, New Zealand were in charge at 176 for four on day one at the Basin Reserve.

But some of the spice went out of the pitch and Michael Clarke (100 not out) and Marcus North (52 not out) pounced, adding an unbroken 140 for the fifth wicket as the tourists went to stumps at 316 for four.

The impressive Arnel (2-70) summed up the disappointment and said New Zealand needed at least two early wickets on day two to wrench back the momentum.

"We let ourselves down quite a lot. The first two sessions were exactly what we wanted and we were happy with that," the 31-year-old Northern Districts seamer said.

"We knew what we had to do going into the third session and we didn't execute the plans. We needed to put the pressure on but Clarke and North came out quite positive and wanted momentum before the next new ball and they got it. We were pretty disappointed."

Clarke and North were the two Australian batsmen most under the microscope after Ponting won his sixth consecutive toss of the tour and confidently chose to bat first.

Clarke looked scratchy in the one-day series before he quit the tour for a high-profile relationship split with model Lara Bingle. North meanwhile was under pressure from rising star Steve Smith and in need of a big score.

Both obliged as Australia added 153 for just Katich's wicket in the final session against the four-pronged New Zealand pace attack and captain Daniel Vettori, who toiled hard for 21 wicketless overs.

"The New Zealand guys were very respectful, there wasn't one word said about what happened over the last two weeks," Clarke said.

"They played very hard as they always do, but the crowd and the New Zealand guys were fantastic.

"He (North) worked his backside off, he's had some hard times back at home and there's been some questionmarks over his spot in the team.

"Everybody in our changing room knows he should be there and he showed that today."

Clarke, who slammed his second 50 off just 39 balls, knew they could maximise the improving conditions and the tiring home attack in the final two hours.

He reached three figures off the last over of the day then jubilantly raised his arms to a generous Basin Reserve standing ovation.

Clarke predicted plenty of hard work for the bowlers in coming days.

"The wicket's good, we're going to have to bowl well. New Zealand bowled pretty well and fielded really well. We've still got plenty of work to do."