Kiwis take control

HOBART, Australia (AP):New Zealand captain Ross Taylor found his team in an unexpected position at stumps on the second day of the second Test yesterday: leading Australia by 153 runs after being bowled out for almost the same amount on the first day.

The visitors, trying to win their first Test match in Australia since 1985, were 139-3 at stumps in their second innings on a Bellerive Oval wicket that appeared to be flattening out to provide more assistance for the batsmen. It came after 20 wickets fell in just over the first four sessions on the pitch.

Australia, who experienced another failure from former captain and Tasmania native Ricky Ponting when he was dismissed for 5, lost six wickets in the first session yesterday and was bowled out for 136 to trail by 14 runs after the first innings.

half-century partnership

A diligent Taylor (42) and Kane Williamson (34) combined for a half-century partnership at the end of the day and will resume today in an effort to improve New Zealand's chances of winning the second Test after having lost the first in Brisbane by nine wickets.

Chris Martin, Doug Bracewell and on-debut left-arm seamer Trent Boult earlier took three wickets each for New Zealand.

Martin, who celebrated his 37th birthday Friday by claiming 3-46, said New Zealand hope to take advantage of its late scoring spurt.

"To put it in perspective, for us to bounce back after the way we played in Brisbane would be massive for us," he said.

"And I think that's been a key focus for us in this game - to show that we're not as poor as we looked in Brisbane. I don't know how many runs are needed (to bat Australia out of the game) so we'll just see how we go tomorrow."

A late half-century partnership from tailenders and first-innings bowling stars James Pattinson and Peter Siddle helped steer Australia past the 100 mark. But once Siddle (36), who took three wickets in New Zealand's first innings, and Pattinson (17), who had five, were dismissed in consecutive overs, the two remaining batsmen could only add five runs.

Siddle was confident of his team's chances.

"I think with our batting line-up and the way the wicket played this afternoon, we can chase anything," Siddle said. "Hopefully we can skittle them for as little as possible. We have to get stuck in tomorrow and move on."

Ponting extended his century drought to 30 innings as Australia stumbled to 81-7 at lunch.

Australia looked in danger, at least for a while, of another sub-100 total until being rescued by the tailenders. In Cape Town last month during the first Test against South Africa, Australia scored just 47 runs, its lowest total in 109 years and a performance that Australia captain Michael Clarke called "disgraceful."