Cricket: Trans-Tasman test locked up despite Taylor's heroics

Australia and New Zealand remain locked together despite Ross Taylor scoring NZ's second-fastest test fifty. Photo / Getty Images

Live scores

New Zealand and Australia were locked together after the hosts couldn't ram home the advantage created by Ross Taylor's record-breaking century here today.

Taylor cracked an 81-ball century, the fastest by a New Zealand test batsman, on the way to 138 but the hosts could only manage 264 to claim a 33-run first innings lead at Seddon Park.

That deficit was wiped when bad light forced an early finish, with Australia two runs in credit as Shane Watson (28 not out) and Simon Katich (six not out) reached 35 without loss off 14 overs in their second innings.

Captain Daniel Vettori bowled three wicketless overs and will hold the key for New Zealand tomorrow on a dry pitch, after his excellent four for 36 on day one of his 100th test.

Taylor shone on another frantic day as he pipped his Vettori's 82-ball record, set against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2005-06.

But New Zealand would have been disappointed to only post 264 after they were a comfortable 114 for two with BJ Watling (46) helping Taylor add 84 for the third wicket.

After the early loss of Mathew Sinclair, yorked by Mitchell Johnson for 11, Taylor strode out in familiar shaky territory at 30 for two and quickly blazed New Zealand out of trouble.

He hit 19 fours and four sixes in his 104-ball, 179-minute knock before he became the eighth New Zealand wicket to fall, caught behind from a swipe at Doug Bollinger which was successfully challenged by the Australians under the umpire decision review system (DRS).

Taylor rode his luck against a sloppy fielding effort, edging between slips Watson and Ricky Ponting on seven, hitting through Johnson's hands on 52, then on 92 edging to Watson who shelled a comfortable chance.

Taylor relished the easy-paced pitch and crashed most of his runs through the off side with a series of drives and cuts.

He reached his half-century off 34 balls and always seemed a solid bet to beat Vettori's mark.

After two dot balls from left-armer Johnson, Taylor cut him high over the slips for four off his 81st delivery.

Then the fun really started as spinner Nathan Hauritz delivered his 13th over.

Taylor crashed the last three balls for six to help take 25 runs off the over, equalling Andrew McDonald (against South Africa in Cape Town last season) as the most expensive Australian test over.

There was another let-off on 110 when Watson caught Taylor at deep mid-wicket but had to throw the ball infield as he toppled over the boundary.

It was otherwise disappointing from New Zealand against another demanding, accurate effort from Australia's pace trio.

Johnson led the way with four for 59 off 16 while Bollinger and Ryan Harris took three wickets apiece.

Watling batted a valuable 139 minutes before chopping Bollinger onto his stumps; Martin Guptill pushed innocuously at Harris on four and Vettori drove loosely at the same bowler on 15.

When Brendon McCullum was nicked out by Johnson for five the recognised batsmen had disappeared and Taylor and Southee (22 not out off 15) hit out.

- NZPA