Marnus Labuschagne scored his fourth century in five matches as Australia dominated a New Zealand side ravaged by illness and missing captain Kane Williamson on the first day of the third and final Test on Friday. With the series already lost after heavy defeats in Perth and Melbourne, the Black Caps were rocked when Williamson, batsman Henry Nicholl and spinner Mitchell Santner were ruled out of the match by a flu virus. Paceman Trent Boult is also missing after returning home with a broken hand suffered in the second Test in Melbourne. Australia had never needed an invitation to plunder runs over this series and the makeshift New Zealand attack was duly put to the sword as the home side finished on 238-3 on a mostly sunny day when the smoke from the bushfires stayed away from the Sydney Cricket Ground. Labuschagne looked immovable as he hit a magnificent 130 not out to add to the innings of 185 and 162 he registered against Pakistan in November and the 143 he scored against New Zealand in the first Test. The 25-year-old piled on the runs in a third-wicket partnership of 156 with Steve Smith (63) and will resume on Saturday with Matthew Wade, who had scored 22 not out off 30 balls by the close of play. Smith took 39 balls to get off the mark was caught at slip off Colin de Grandhomme after an 182 ball-stay at the crease. "It's rare that you play an away team with five changes but that's the circumstances they have with the sickness," said Labuschagne. "It was a nice day out there and a good day for Australia ... I'm just trying to keep it in the moment, just focus on each ball." David Warner fell again to the leg-side trap on the third ball after lunch when he was caught by de Grandhomme at leg gully off Neil Wagner for 45. It was the fourth time in the series left-armer Wagner has snared Warner, who has yet to reach a half-century against New Zealand this summer after scoring an unbeaten 335 and 154 against Pakistan last November. Opener Joe Burns was dismissed in the 15th over, squared up by de Grandhomme and caught by Taylor at first slip for 18.
