Williamson leads Kiwi fightback against Australia

Join The Roar for all the thrills and spills of Day 3 of this second trans-tasman Test match, live from the WACA starting from 1:30pm (AEDT).

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson avoids a delivery from Australia’s Mitchell Johnson.

Tom Latham, the other New Zealand opener, showcased his potential stardom with a bevy of exquisite cover drives so aesthetically lovely that it evoked David Gower at his absolute pomp.

Having toiled in the field, New Zealand’s innings got off to the worst possible start when Mitchell Starc trapped Martin Guptill lbw for one.

With the pitch offering more bounce and pace notably contrasting from its blandness on the day one, New Zealand’s top order was under searing pressure to curtail a high-octane Australian attack.

In-form Australian batsman Usman Khawaja faces an anxious wait to determine the extent of a hamstring injury which he suffered while fielding after tea on Day Two of the second Test against New Zealand here on Saturday. On the way, he passed 4000 test runs – the second quickest Australian to do so (45 Tests) behind only Don Bradman (31 tests).

The Kiwis foiled Warner’s bid to break more batting records when they removed him early in the day’s play for 253, caught in slips from the bowling of Trent Boult.

Tim Southee of New Zealand looks on as the sight screen is adjusted during day one of the second test.

That record partnership came after Warner and Joe Burns added 101 for the first wicket, Australia’s fifth straight 100-run partnership in Tests going back to the Ashes.

“There were odd occasions where Brendon did bring the field back in but for us it was about rotating the strike and that was the crucial thing (getting) us to 2-400”.

And the spinoff from that could be arriving in Adelaide for the pink ball test still with a chance of squaring the series.

And the more so when his captain, Steve Smith followed shortly after.

A security officer takes a breather on the WACA Ground pitch in Perth.