Kiwis delay fast-paced Aus victory
Astle, Oram and McCullum together put up a fight to take the Kiwi total to 149 for five on fourth day of the final Test in Adelaide.
New Zealand kept an eye on the weather to save them as they frustrated Australia's efforts to wrap up another fast-tracked victory in the second cricket Test at the Adelaide Oval on Monday.
The Kiwis, humiliated by an innings loss in Brisbane, appeared to be lurching towards another ignominious defeat inside four days when they faltered to 36 for four at tea chasing a record 464 to win.
But Nathan Astle and Jacob Oram resisted Australia's attempts to break through for 90 minutes in a stubborn 63-run fifth-wicket stand before Astle lost concentration and hit to Justin Langer at short cover to give hometown hero Darren Lehmann his first wicket of the match.
Wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum took up the struggle with Brisbane century-maker Oram and the pair got New Zealand to the close in the gathering gloom and under floodlights at 149 for five with Oram unbeaten on 40 in 129 minutes and McCullum on 34 in 38 minutes.
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