New Zealand opened up confident 153-run run lead after bowling Australia out for 136 to take control of the second cricket Test Saturday. New Zealand, which was out for 150 in its first innings, was 139-3 at stumps in its second innings on the second day on a Bellerive Oval wicket that appeared to be providing more assistance for the batsmen. It came after 20 wickets fell in just over four sessions on the pitch. Australia, which experienced another failure from former captain and Tasmania native Ricky Ponting when he was dismissed for 5, lost six wickets in the first session to trail by 14 runs after the first innings. Captain Ross Taylor (42) and Kane Williamson (34) combined for a half-century partnership at the end of the day and will resume Sunday in an effort to improve New Zealand's chances of winning the second Test after having lost the first in Brisbane by nine wickets. Chris Martin, Doug Bracewell and on-debut left-arm seamer Trent Boult earlier took three wickets each for New Zealand. A late half-century partnership from tailenders and first-innings bowling stars James Pattinson and Peter Siddle helped steer Australia past the 100 mark. But once Siddle (36), who took three wickets in New Zealand's first innings, and Pattinson (17), who had five, were dismissed in consecutive overs, the two remaining batsmen could only add five runs. Australia looked in danger, at least for a while, of another sub-100 total until being rescued by the tailenders. In Cape Town last month during the first Test against South Africa, Australia scored just 47 runs, its lowest total in 109 years and a performance that Australia captain Michael Clarke called “disgraceful.”
