Haddin heroics put Australia in charge

Australia were bowled out for 535 late on day three with Haddin's knock of 169 the highlight along with the 181-run sixth wicket partnership with Michael Clarke, who contributed 110 to Australia's total.

New Zealand trailed by 265 after the first innings but chipped off 35 runs after a positive nine-over stint before the end of play with Aaron Redmond (15) and Jamie How (13) unbeaten at the crease.

Brett Lee found the edge on several occasions but went for 16 runs off his first over as Australia failed to end a superb day on a high with a Kiwi scalp.

Hussey and Haddin came together when Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds were dismissed in quick succession by Chris Martin in the morning.

Clarke, who was bowled for 98 in the First Test at the Gabba, gave his fans a scare as he closed in on triple figures.

He pushed the ball out onto the leg side, hesitated mid-pitch before completing the single that notched up his ninth Test century.

The right-hander was eventually dismissed when he slashed at a wide delivery from Ian O'Brien and was caught by Jesse Ryder in the gully to end his 239-ball innings which featured 11 boundaries.

Haddin did not ease his ways into the nineties after smashing three boundaries off four Ryder deliveries to race to 97 before he completed his century with a mid-wicket four a couple of overs later.

Haddin had some luck with Daniel Flynn dropping the simplest of catches at mid-on when he was on 72 while an appeal for a bat-pad catch was turned down despite it appearing to catch an edge and glove on the way through.