[1] Teammates celebrate with New Zealand's Doug Bracewell (L) after he took the wicket of Australia captain Michael Clarke during the second test at Bellerive Oval in Hobart today. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz Australia were 68 runs from victory with five wickets in hand and David Warner approaching his maiden century at lunch on the fourth day of the second test against New Zealand on Monday.
New Zealand paceman Doug Bracewell rattled the hosts with three quick wickets just before the break to wrest back the momentum and leave Australia wobbling on 173 for five at the end of an extended morning session.
Opener Warner, playing in just his second test, reached lunch on 95 not out alongside wicketkeeper and the last recognised Australian batsman Brad Haddin, who had made three.
Australia, whose hopes of wrapping up the series 2-0 had looked slight when they were bundled out for 136 in their first innings on Saturday, resumed on 72 without loss chasing 241 for victory after Sunday's final session was rained out.
New Zealand struck almost immediately, however, with quick Chris Martin having Phil Hughes caught by Martin Guptill in the slips for 20 without any addition to the score.
It was the fourth time the Martin-Guptill combination had claimed the wicket of Hughes in four innings in the series and probably ended the embattled lefthander's hopes of a place in the side for the upcoming four-match series against India.
Warner, who made his debut in the nine-wicket victory in the first test at the Gabba, had brought up his first test half century off 65 balls with a rather fortunate edged four past second slip.
He combined with Usman Khawaja to put on 50 runs for the second wicket before the Black Caps struck again when a brilliant catch from captain Ross Taylor in the slips off the bowling of debutant Trent Boult sent Khawaja back to the pavilion for 23.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting had been looking for a big score on his home island, where he scored his last test century with 209 against Pakistan in Jan. 2010.
The 36-year-old got settled in well enough but had made just 16 when he slapped a short ball from Doug Bracewell straight to Tim Southee at extra cover, leaving another question mark over his test future.
Bracewell's next over put the match back in the balance when he dismissed Australia skipper Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey for ducks on consecutive balls.
Clarke was deceived by an outswinger and caught in the slips by Taylor before an inswinger trapped Hussey lbw with umpire Asad Rauf forced to reverse his decision after a TV review.
New Zealand are looking for a first test victory on Australian soil for 26 years.
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