Australia in sight of victory, top ranking

Christchurch: Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja had Australia in sight of victory and the top Test ranking on Tuesday after an absorbing fourth day marked by stubborn resistance from New Zealand and umpire abuse by the tourists.

With Burns on 27 and Khawaja 19, Australia were 70 for 1 at stumps in the second Test in Christchurch, requiring a further 131 to sweep the series 2-0 and return to world number one.

Jackson Bird, with his first five-wicket Test haul, and James Pattinson combined to end the New Zealand second innings at 335, giving Australia a 201-run target.

David Warner, who has struggled on New Zealand surfaces, was the Australian wicket to fall, caught behind for 22.

Neil Wagner, using the short ball that provided him with six wickets in the first innings, caught Warner's glove and BJ Watling completed the dismissal down the leg-side.

Burns offered chances but luck was on his side. On 19, he pulled Matt Henry through square leg where Wagner was unable to hold a difficult chance. On 23, an inside edge off Henry sailed close to off stump.

Khawaja, however, looked untroubled and effortlessly moved to 19 off 23 deliveries.

Although New Zealand had their backs to the wall, all-rounder Corey Anderson said they see hope in a fragile Australian tail.

"We're going to have to come up with some interesting fields and give it a real crack," he said.

"We managed to run through the tail pretty quickly in the first innings after they'd put on about 400 for the first six wickets.

"If we can get in a similar situation then we've just got to back ourselves."

Although Australia have been dominant for much of the Test, New Zealand put up a valiant fight with two century partnerships as they battled to save the contest.

Kane Williamson made 97 when adding 102 for the fifth wicket with Anderson.

The loss of Anderson for 40 was the start of a Bird strike that claimed three wickets in six balls.

Williamson and Tim Southee also fell before BJ Watling and Henry mounted rearguard resistance, adding 118 for the eighth wicket.

Bird, back in the Australian side for the first time in three years, was not totally happy with his performance despite taking five for 59 .

"I feel like I've been pretty inconsistent with the way I've bowled in the series which is disappointing, but it was nice to get a few wickets today and to put us in a pretty good position to win the game and win the series," he said.

Williamson defiance:

Anderson, having pocketed his usual attacking instincts, occupied the crease for three hours before shelving caution and driving at a wide delivery which he edged on to the stumps.

When Bird took the new ball in his next over he bagged the wicket Australia had fought for all morning, bowling Williamson three runs short of what would have been a 14th Test century, and two balls he later removed Southee for a duck.

Williamson had spent 340 minutes in the middle defying the Australians whose frustrations spilled over just before lunch with a Josh Hazlewood shout for lbw when Williamson was on 88.

Read: Josh Hazlewood pleads guilty to dissent in umpire row

After Australia sought a review of umpire Ranmore Martinesz's not out decision and the third umpire concurred there was bat on ball, the Australians converged on the umpires.

The stumps microphone picked up an obscenity "Who the f*** is the third umpire?" from Hazlewood as the players made their feelings known.

Where Williamson and Anderson had been the epitome of caution, Watling and Henry took a more aggressive route to disrupt the line of the bowlers who were finding some reverse swing.

Henry, in his fourth Test, had 12 fours in his 66, easily surpassing his previous best of 27.

For Australia, Pattinson removed New Zealand's top order in his four for 77.