Cricket: Big defeat looms for NZ

New Zealand's two most senior players and the Wellington weather are all that stand between Australia and a massive first cricket test win after a dire third day for the hosts.

Captain Daniel Vettori, on 18 not out, and Brendon McCullum, four not out, will resume tomorrow with New Zealand 187 for five in their second innings, still trailing Australia by 115 runs overall.

Eleven New Zealand wickets fell today on an excellent Basin Reserve pitch as the hosts were forced to follow-on 302 behind Australia's first innings of 459 for five declared.

Left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger provided the nightmares for New Zealand, with test-best figures of five for 28 in the first innings and two more in the second.

Only opener Tim McIntosh provided lengthy resistance in the second innings, but his determined knock of 83 ended three overs before bad light forced an early finish to the day.

Having blunted the Australian attack for 272 minutes and 220 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and a six, he prodded forward at spinner Nathan Hauritz and Simon Katich held a sharp chance.

After their first innings folded for 157 in just 59.1 overs, there was at least some early New Zealand resistance the second time around.

McIntosh and BJ Watling put on 70, the second highest New Zealand opening stand of the home summer, behind the pair's unbroken 90 against Pakistan in Napier.

Watling dug in for 131 minutes for 33 before Bollinger's fast inswinger produced a carbon copy of the young opener's leg before wicket dismissal yesterday. He challenged umpire Ian Gould's decision but replays offered no reprieve.

Peter Ingram's unhappy test -- an aggregate of six runs and an unlucky run out -- was ended when Bollinger enticed an edge then vice-captain Ross Taylor departed for 25 after another promising start.

Having smashed spinner Nathan Hauritz on to the embankment, Taylor offered no shot and the ball spun viciously. Umpire Asad Rauf said no to the leg before wicket appeal, but the Australians challenged and replays showed it hitting the stumps.

After Martin Guptill perished for six to a familiar uppish drive to short cover, it seemed McIntosh and Vettori would bat out the day but the opener fell in sight of the finish line.

An expectant Sunday crowd turned up to cheer on a New Zealand fightback but instead they witnessed a meek collapse as they lost six for 49 in the first hour after the hosts resumed this morning on 108 for four.

The rot started as early as the day's first over, when New Zealand's big overnight hope Vettori drove Ryan Harris down the ground for four then tried to repeat on 46 and edged to second slip.

McCullum was adjudged leg before wicket for nought but got a reprieve from the review system when replays showed Gould missed a Harris no ball. He scored a brisk 24 before a loose hook shot at Bollinger was well taken by a diving Harris.

Guptill, after a 156-minute vigil for 30, followed two balls later as Bollinger's pace again proved too much.

The wag in the tail was non-existent as the final five wickets fell for nine runs in three bizarre overs, including Daryl Tuffey's run out from a Hauritz direct hit when he forgot to slide his bat.