Watson and White lead Australia recovery

Chasing 201 for victory, the pair shared an unbroken 80-stand at the halfway stage of their innings with Watson not out on 49 and White with him on 32 as the defending champions reached 86 for two.

Their chase had began poorly, though, with Shane Bond and Kyle Mills causing all sorts of problems early on.

Paceman Bond was first to strike with a swinging second delivery from the Pavilion End that drew Tim Paine (one) into a drive that was excellently snapped up low to his right by Ross Taylor at first slip.

Six balls later Mills struck with another fine ball that trapped opposing captain Ricky Ponting right in front for one, leaving Australia at six for two.

The bowling powerplay was taken in the 11th over, followed by the introduction of Ian Butler an over later, which brought the first four in almost six overs when White pierced the medium-pacer through the cover-point region.

With the score on 42 for two in the 18th over, the same batsman survived a huge let-off when stand-in Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum put down a difficult chance running back after an attempted pull off Butler went high instead of long.

The Australia 50 finally came up in the next over when Watson opened the face of his bat and ran a Jeetan Patel delivery down to the third-man boundary, followed by the half-century stand from 103 balls.

The partnership continued to blossom with Watson at the forefront as he plundered Butler for the first six of the innings in the 22nd over.

The second one came in the over after off Patel as Australia reached 25 overs needing just 115 more for victory with eight wickets intact.