New Zealand have Australia at 57 for one after being bowled out for 370 on the first day of the second test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch today.
Brendon McCullum, playing his last test, was the star of the day, breaking a world record on his way to 145, digging New Zealand out of a deep hole.
McCullum's 54-ball century was the fastest in test history and was an innings characteristic of his approach to the game.
Attacking aggressively, McCullum scored his runs all around the ground, hitting six sixes and 21 fours in the process. His quick wrists, good eye and fearless attitude were all evident, as he rode his luck with both some clean hitting and a handful of edges into gaps.
Australia could not catch a break, particularly when McCullum was caught for 43, but was given not out after replays showed James Pattinson had overstepped and bowled a no-ball.
McCullum put on 179 runs with Corey Anderson, who scored 72 runs himself, hitting four sixes and looking characteristically dangerous down the ground.
When those two were dismissed within three overs of each other, New Zealand were 266 for six and looked well in the game.
A 58 from BJ Watling, along with some handy contributions from the tail saw New Zealand through to 370.
It was not always looking so good though. Inside 20 overs New Zealand were 32 for three, with the Australian seamers looking dangerous on a green wicket.
Kane Williamson stemmed the flow of wickets, facing 69 balls for just seven runs, but was caught brilliantly in the slips after a gem of a delivery just after lunch.
That made way for McCullum and Anderson to begin the fightback.
The wickets were shared around for Austrlaia, with Nathan Lyon picking up three for 61, while Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Jackson Bird all grabbed two.
Trent Boult removed the dangerous David Warner for 12 early in the Australian innings, although Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja steadied the ship, finishing the day on 27 and 18 respectively.
