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Brisbane: Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke have driven Australia to 3-154, 141 runs short of New Zealand's first innings total, when bad light stopped play midway through the final session on the second day at the Gabba.
Ponting (67 not out) and Clarke (28 not out) will both be eying big scores when play resumes tomorrow, but both needed a big slice of luck in their unbeaten 63-run partnership, with Clarke called back after chopping a no-ball on and Ponting surviving a razor thin leg-before referral.
But after falling to 2-25 at one stage, it was a sensational rebuild from the current and former skipper, following on from a tidy knock of 38 by Usman Khawaja at No.3.
Earlier, Nathan Lyon was the hero of Australia's bowling effort, finishing with 4-66 - the best return by an Australian finger spinner at the Gabba since Bert Ironmonger took 4-44 in 1931-32 - as the hosts took five wickets in the morning session to have the Kiwis all out for 295.
Consummate all-round professional Daniel Vettori (96) and No.6 Dean Brownlie (77 not out) combined in a record 158-run sixth-wicket partnership, taking the Kiwis to a competitive score despite a loose effort from the top order and a no-show from the tail.
Australia resumed with disaster from the first ball back after tea, with Khawaja caught inches short diving for his ground after Ponting called him through for a leg-side single.
Clarke was off the mark with a lovely drive for four and then Ponting went one better, piercing a non-existent gap at extra-cover to raise Australia's 100 with a boundary.
Ponting moved to 48 with a trademark hook off the grill for four and then he registered his sixth Test 50 against New Zealand with a muscly back-foot bump through the covers down to the longest boundary on the ground.
The 50-run partnership came up in the 42nd over and then Clarke had a huge slice of luck.
Shouldering arms to Doug Bracewell, the ball caught the back of his bat and bounced onto the wickets. But umpire Asad Rauf suspected a no-ball and when replays confirmed, Clarke was called back.
Ponting was next to have a life. Dean Brownlie was given an over to break things up and his fourth ball brought a bit enough appeal for the Kiwis to refer the not-out decision.
Replays showed the ball was impacting right on the edge of off-stump and going on to clip the bail, but the margins were too close and the decision reverted back to the umpire's original call.
Both of Australia's left-handed openers, David Warner and Phil Hughes, fell cheap and early, and will be desperate for another bat in the second innings.
Brief scores
New Zealand 295 (Vettori 96, Brownlie 77*, Lyon 4-69)
Australia 3 for 154 (Ponting 67*)
Status Australia trail by 141 runs
