Steve Smith led from the front to ensure Australia took the honours on day one of the inaugural day-night Test.
Smith's unique technique was given a thorough examination under lights at Adelaide Oval, where New Zealand swing kings Tim Southee and Trent Boult had the pink ball hooping.
Smith survived 22 overs as Australia reached 2-54 at stumps on Friday, having rolled New Zealand for 202.
Mitchell Starc will not bowl in NZ's second innings because of stress fractures in a foot.
Scans on the injured paceman have revealed fractures to the third metatarsal bone in his right foot.
"It's obviously very disappointing ... we've got enough bowling in our line-up anyway to take the 10 wickets required," Peter Siddle said.
It was the only downside for Australia's attack in a markedly improved bowling performance compared to Brisbane and Perth.
Siddle dismissed Ross Taylor and Doug Bracewell, bringing his career tally to 200 Test wickets.
Australia suffered swing-induced collapses on grassy pitches in the third and fourth Ashes Tests this year, Smith logging single-figure scores at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.
Desperate to stop a repeat, the 26-year-old showed great maturity in reaching 24 off 48 balls.
He came out to bat in the fourth over when David Warner was out edging for one.
The final session is supposed to be the hardest time to face the pink ball.
Southee, Boult and Bracewell ensured that was the case.
First-changer Bracewell was the pick of the visitors' bowlers, finishing with figures of 1-6 after Joe Burns (14) played on.
The hosts aren't in control of the contest yet, however Smith and Adam Voges (9no) should find batting a lot easier on Saturday.
"It's a pretty good position, knowing their ball is a bit older now," Siddle said.
"All in all, it's a very good day for us.
"But tomorrow is going to be the big day."
NZ suffered a post-tea collapse of 3-4 on Friday but it had more to do with patient bowling and sloppy shots than the pink ball.
Starc, Siddle and Nathan Lyon all struck amid the chaos.
Taylor, who scored a masterful 290 in Perth, was out driving for 21.
Skipper Brendon McCullum, who won the toss for the first time in the three-Test series, followed it up with a sloppy cut shot to Starc on four.
Wicketkeeper Peter Nevill snaffled both edges, having started the rot by removing Tom Latham with a superb catch that somehow stuck in the webbing of his gloves.
Debutant Mitchell Santner and BJ Watling steadied somewhat in a 44-run stand, only for it to end when Starc was thrown the ball and he gave Santner a send-off.
Australia's new spearhead captured three wickets and bowled nine overs.
A sandshoe crusher that removed gun batsman Kane Williamson was proof of how well Starc was bowling before he trudged off the park after 48 overs.
"They put a lot of pressure on us .. it's hard to tell if it's a below-par score," Boult said.
"It would have been nice to have some more runs on the board."
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