Joe Burns, Steve Smith dig in for Australia

Christchurch: Joe Burns posted his fourth Test 50 as he fought with captain Steve Smith to close in on New Zealand’s 370 on day two of the second Test in Christchurch on Sunday.

At lunch Australia were 151 for 2 with Burns on 78 and Smith 37 in an unbroken 84-run partnership.

New Zealand took one wicket in the morning session after Australia resumed the day at 57 for 1 with the pitch considerably more placid than on the opening day.

Usman Khawaja added six to his overnight score to reach 24 when he edged a Trent Boult delivery outside off stump and Brendon McCullum at first slip took a sharp catch just above ground level.

With Australia 67 for 2, Burns and Smith dug in until they had worn away the bowlers’ control and then lifted the tempo.

The first 15 overs of the day only produced 36 runs but the next 14 before lunch added 58.

The pitch that started out as a seamer’s paradise had flattened out, offering the bowlers no sideways movement.

As Burns and Smith upped the pace, Neil Wagner’s third over cost 14 runs and the following over from Matt Henry yielded 11, forcing New Zealand to set more defensive fields and try a short-pitched bowling attack.

SCOREBOARD
New Zealand (1st innings): 370
Australia (1st innings): D. Warner c Guptill b Boult 12, J. Burns c Guptill b Wagner 170, U. Khawaja c McCullum b Boult 24, S. Smith c Guptill b Wagner 138, A. Voges (not out) 2, N. Lyon (not out) 4. Extras (b-4, lb-9) 13. Total (for four wickets in 110 overs) 363.
FoW: 1-25, 2-67, 3-356, 4-357.
Bowling: Southee 22-4-71-0, Boult 24-5-85-2, Henry 27-6-88-0, Anderson 12-1-32-0, Wagner 20-4-63-2, Williamson 5-0-11-0.