Pattinson destroys Kiwis in cricket Test

Paceman James Pattinson narrowly missed a hat-trick in his debut Test as he ripped through the New Zealand top order to put Australia on the path to victory in the first Test on Sunday. The 21-year-old fast bowler snared three wickets in four balls and was 5-7 in seven overs as he skittled the Kiwis to threaten to end the match on the fourth day. Daniel Vettori fell in the over before lunch, leaving the Kiwis at a precarious 121 for seven and trailing Australia by 11 runs. Dean Brownlie was unbeaten on 40. Pattinson, bowling a full length at searing pace, removed Martin Guptill (12), Kane Williamson (0) and skipper Ross Taylor (0) in the space of four balls in his opening over of the day. Guptill could not keep down a lifter and popped an easy catch to Usman Khawaja at bat-pad to start the rot. Williamson was out two balls later, edging to Ricky Ponting at second slip and Taylor was out next ball snicking to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to leave Pattinson on a hat-trick in his debut Test match. Jesse Ryder barely survived Pattinson's hat-trick ball, a 150 km/h yorker to finish his fifth over with figures of 4-1 and New Zealand clinging on at 17 for four. Damien Fleming is the only Australian to have taken a hat-trick on his Test debut, against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 1994. England's Maurice Allom and New Zealander Peter Petherick also captured hat-tricks on Test debut. Nightwatchman Doug Bracewell became Pattinson's fifth victim, falling to a full delivery on offstump and was caught behind by Haddin for two, leaving the Black Caps at 28 for five in the 13th over. Pattinson, who was selected for the first Test after just nine first-class matches, surpassed his previous best first-class figures of 4-52 for his state Victoria. Captain Michael Clarke introduced the offspin of Nathan Lyon in the 22nd over and Ryder was lured into a false shot to Mike Hussey at mid-off. Ryder hit six fours in his 36 in 63 minutes but the Kiwis badly needed someone to occupy the crease and score the runs to make Australia bat a second time in the match. David Warner's first ball in Test cricket almost claimed a wicket when Brownlie on 34 was put down by a diving Pattinson on the deep mid-wicket boundary minutes before lunch. But Vettori fell when he attempted to cut part-timer Hussey to Clarke at slip for 17 with two balls left to lunch.