An Australian batting onslaught and some fielding blunders left the BLACKCAPS a big task of avoiding defeat in the second cricket test in Adelaide today.
Thanks to centuries from Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin, Australia cruised to 433 for six in their first innings at tea on the third day for an imposing lead of 163 runs.
Clarke and Haddin, who hit his maiden test century, added 181 for the sixth wicket as Australia put on 81 in the middle session for the loss of Clarke's wicket for 110.
At tea, Haddin was rumbling onwards on 118 with Brett Lee on nought as Australia look to bat the BLACKCAPS out of the game on an excellent Adelaide Oval batting surface.
The BLACKCAPS had little to celebrate after the day's third over when paceman Chris Martin removed Michael Hussey for 70 and Andrew Symonds for nought to reduce the hosts to 247 for five.
Haddin took control as the senior partner in the sixth-wicket stand, reaching his first test half-century off 65 deliveries with eight fours.
He had some luck along the way, surviving a confident caught behind appeal on seven off Martin and, judging by captain Daniel Vettori's reaction, a possible juggled chance by gloveman Brendon McCullum on 39.
Haddin should have been gone on 72 when Vettori deceived him in flight but Daniel Flynn dropped a simple chest-high chance at mid-on.
Meanwhile, Clarke began to up the pace after a sedate first 50, and pushed Jesse Ryder for one to bring up his ninth test century off 218 deliveries.
Haddin followed two overs later and was jubilant to reach his first century as the total passed 400.
A Vettori bowling change finally separated the pair when Iain O'Brien enticed Clarke to drive in the air to Ryder at point, ending his 331-minute, 239-ball innings which included 11 fours.
The dropsies for the BLACKCAPS were not over when Lee came to the crease, and Vettori shelled a waist-high return chance.
The captain took on a huge workload and persisted with a leg-stump line to try and exploit the bowler's footmarks.
At tea he had figures of one for 99 off 52 overs, while O'Brien had two for 98 and Martin two for 95. Haddin had faced 185 balls and hit 18 fours at the break.
NZPA
