New Zealand gave themselves a slim chance of escaping the first Test against Australia with a draw as rain intervened on day four in Brisbane.
Kane Williamson followed his first innings 140 with a 59 as play did not resume after tea with the Black Caps 142 for 3 – 362 runs behind but with more bad weather forecast for Monday.
Williamson’s dismissal late in the day leaves Australia in control at the Gabba, but New Zealand may yet hold on for a draw.
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Having been set a target of 504 to win, the morning session almost got off to the worst possible start for the tourists as Tom Latham’s shot was fumbled by Joe Burns from the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.
Latham ran for four before edging the ball just short to Adam Voges, but following that scare he settled and punched through wide mid-on for four off a Josh Hazlewood delivery.
Martin Guptill should have been caught by Nathan Lyon at point with the Black Caps on 34 and shortly afterwards Latham hit Mitch Marsh for six.
Latham was out for 29 to a faster Marsh yorker and Williamson took the score on to 48 for one at lunch to leave 456 for victory.
#STUMPS @bowlologist & @TomMoodyCricket on Williamson’s brilliance, Marsh’s all-round status… and haggis hurling?! https://t.co/7J7PhGVVnp
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 8, 2015
Williamson hit a confident boundary in the third over after the restart and his partnership with Guptill had looked solid until the latter was dismissed for 23 when he was undone by a flatter delivery from Lyon and edged to Steven Smith.
Ross Taylor came in at four with New Zealand on 97 for 1 and hit Johnson for four before doing the same to Lyon in the next over.
A confident Williamson brought up his 50 with a boundary but he was out lbw on 59 following a review, with replays showing the ball would have clipped the upper edge of the bails.
Brendon McCullum was quickly off the mark, slapping his second delivery through cover point for four off a Lyon delivery, before rain and bad light brought an early end to proceedings.
