Australia gain upper hand

Having been dismissed for 214 on the opening day, Australia looked to their bowlers to keep them in the match and they responded by taking four New Zealand wickets in the morning session before wrapping up the innings shortly before the tea interval.

Ross Taylor top-scored with 40 while Daniel Flynn finished unbeaten on 39 as Johnson ripped through the lower order to return figures of four for 30 from just eight overs.

The paceman was even on a hat-trick at one stage with Black Cap number 11 Chris Martin on strike but he managed to deny the 28-year-old. Brett Lee (2-38), Stuart Clark (2-46) and Shane Watson (2-35) all provided able support.

New Zealand resumed the second session on 108 for four and Lee soon made a crucial breakthrough in the first over after lunch when he trapped Taylor lbw with a ball that kept low.

Watson claimed the next victim when he bowled Grant Elliott (nine) in unconventional fashion as both batsman and bowler were unaware that the leg bail had been disturbed with the all-rounder appealing for lbw after his swinging delivery had first hit Elliott's pad.

A tenacious Flynn denied the Australian attack in a four-hour stay at the crease but wickets tumbled with depressing regularity at the other end.

Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori went tamely for two when he popped up a short ball from Johnson straight to Andrew Symonds at point and Tim Southee (duck) and Iain O'Brien (one) also fell cheaply before Clark wrapped up the New Zealand innings when he yorked Martin for one.

New Zealand had resumed the day on seven without loss but suffered an early setback when opener Aaron Redmond edged a rising delivery from Clark to Ricky Ponting, who made a diving catch at second slip.

Jamie How was removed by Lee having made 14 when he was bowled by a swinging delivery while Jesse Ryder (3) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin trying to cut Watson. Johnson then brought about the end of danger man Brendon McCullum for eight.