Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich each hit hundreds in a double-century partnership to leave the first Test between New Zealand and Australia hanging in the balance after day three in Christchurch on Saturday.
Gilchrist smashed 121 off 126 balls and Katich made a patient 118 from 229 deliveries to help Australia get within one run of New Zealand's first innings total of 433.
The Kiwis then survived six overs before the close of play to reach nine without loss in their second innings, a lead of 10 runs. Captain Stephen Fleming was seven not out and Craig Cumming on two.
New Zealand were on top after dismissing skipper Ricky Ponting (46), Michael Clarke (eight) and nightwatchman Jason Gillespie (12) before lunch to leave Australia teetering at 201 for six.
But Gilchrist and Katich turned things around with a partnership of 212, five runs short of Australia's all-time record for the seventh wicket.
SAVAGE ASSAULT
The ever-dangerous Gilchrist set the tone by launching a savage assault on the bowling as Australia added 133 in the second session.
Gilchrist completed his 14th Test hundred off 105 balls in 154 minutes.
He smashed 12 fours and six sixes, lifting his Test total of sixes to 74 to overtake Clive Lloyd, Brian Lara and Matthew Hayden and move third on the all-time list behind Chris Cairns (87) and Viv Richards (84).
Katich was initially more cautious than his fellow left-hander.
He crawled to 68 while Gilchrist was in full flow but accelerated before tea, hitting his first six and a string of boundaries.
Katich brought up his second Test hundred off 172 balls when he flicked Iain O'Brien for two.
Gilchrist and Katich, though, went in quick succession after tea, triggering a late collapse in which the last four wickets tumbled for 19 runs.
New Zealand's left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori cleaned up the last three wickets to finish with figures of five for 106 and set the stage for a fascinating last two days.
Scorecard:
New Zealand first innings 433 (H.Marshall 146, G.McGrath 6-115)
Australia first innings (overnight 141-3)
J.Langer b Franklin 23
M.Hayden c Astle b O'Brien 35
R.Ponting c McCullum b Martin 46
D.Martyn lbw b Vettori 32
J.Gillespie c Cumming b Vettori 12
M.Clarke c McCullum b Franklin 8
S.Katich c Vincent b Astle 118
A.Gilchrist c O'Brien b Vettori 121
S.Warne c Astle b Vettori 2
M.Kasprowicz not out 13
G.McGrath lbw b Vettori 0
Extras (b-2 lb-13 nb-4 w-3) 22
Total (all out, 123.2 overs) 432
Fall of wickets: 1-48 2-75 3-140 4-147 5-160 6-201 7-413 8-418 9-426
Bowling: Martin 29-6-104-1 (nb-1 w-1), Franklin 26-5-102-2 (nb-2), O'Brien 14-3-73-1 (nb-1 w-2), Vettori 40.2-13-106-5, Astle 14-6-32-1
New Zealand second innings
C.Cumming not out 2
S.Fleming not out 7
Extras 0
Total (for no wicket, six overs) 9
To bat: H.Marshall, N.Astle, L.Vincent, C.McMillan, B.McCullum, D.Vettori, I.O'Brien, J.Franklin, C.Martin
Bowling: McGrath 2-1-2-0, Gillespie 2-0-6-0, Kasprowicz 1-1-0-0, Warne 1-0-1-0
