Cricket: The day belonged to Taylor

Ross Taylor plays a shot on day four of the second cricket Test match between Australia and New Zealand in Perth. Photo / Getty

Barring a major hiccup tomorrow, expect New Zealand and Australia to pitch up to Adelaide for the third test with the series outcome on the line next week.

Australia will start the final day of the second test at the Waca on 258 for two, holding an overall lead of 193. Steve Smith was on 131 and Adam Voges on 101, the pair having added 212 for the third wicket.

The pitch was showing some signs of wear later in the fourth day but unlikely to be enough to throw the match decisively the bowlers' way after four days of purgatory.

Smith's century was his first in the second innings of a test, and 12th altogether.

He was completely untroubled until very late in the day when seamer Matt Henry beat him with a fine ball then had him dropped leg side by wicketkeeper BJ Watling, both times on 96.

Henry then struck him on the arm, which seemed to hurt Smith and he again needed treatment. Smith went to his century off 140 balls with 13 fours.

Voges completed his second test ton in the third last over, off 180 balls with his 15th four.

New Zealand had a glimmer of hope early in the afternoon when Tim Southee and Trent Boult removed openers Joe Burns and David Warner cheaply, with Australia still 19 behind and No. 3 batsman Usman Khawaja unable to bat.

However Smith was quickly into his stride and had a reliable ally in Voges, playing on his home ground.

The first session of the day belonged to New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, who was last man out for 290, the highest score made by a visiting player in Australia, and third highest by a New Zealander.

Another 13 runs and he'd have made the top score by a New Zealand batsman, held by captain Brendon McCullums 302 against India last year.

New Zealand finished at 624, their highest total against Australia and fifth best overall.

The 1183 runs scored over the course of the first innings of each team is a record for a Waca test.