New South Wales took the honours on day one of its four-day cricket match against New Zealand at the SCG.

In reply to NZ's first innings of 213, the home team was 1-26 at stumps with Greg Mail (12no) and Matthew Phelps (5no) at the crease.

NSW legspinner Stuart MacGill earlier ripped through the NZ lower order and finished with figures of 4-57 off 21 overs after Black Caps captain Scott Styris decided to bat first in overcast conditions.

Opener Mathew Sinclair (88) was the only batsman to cash in after every member of the team's top six made double figures.

His dismissal after tea heralded the visitors' demise with MacGill collecting 3-11 after the interval.

The 32-Test veteran was on the verge of his second hat-trick against the Kiwis after picking up Gareth Hopkins and Ian Butler with consecutive balls.

However he was unable to deliver the killer blow against No.11 Chris Martin with the ball skidding down the leg side.

Tearaway Brett Lee (3-52) did his bid for a Test recall no harm by bowling Hamish Marshall (18) and captain Scott Styris (10) to upset the Kiwis' steady opening before picking up Martin (3) at the end.

New Zealand's Craig McMillan (14) did not help his chances of a recall to the national team by swiping wildly at a wide ball from MacGill to leave the visitors at 4-98.

McMillan, who arrived in Sydney on Wednesday night as cover for ill captain Stephen Fleming, came into the side after Nathan Astle pulled out with a niggling back injury.

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