BRISBANE, Nov 19: New Zealand out-batted, out-bowled and out-thought Australia here on Friday to defy the odds on day two of a first Test they were considered to have little chance of being competitive in.

New Zealand's unheralded bowlers seized the initiative produced by all-rounder Jacob Oram's exhilarating unbeaten century in a spirited first innings of 353 to put the heat on the world champions at the Gabba.

In a situation reminiscent of New Zealand's last drawn series here in 2001, the Kiwis doggedly chipped away at the much-vaunted Australian batsmen to have them struggling at 128 for four after 37 overs.

When fading light ended play with three overs left to bowl, Australia were counter-attacking at 197 for four - 156 runs behind - with in-form Damien Martyn making an authorative 59 and new talent Michael Clarke on 31.

Oram, the imposing No.7, played his finest innings, clubbing 12 boundaries and three prodigious sixes in a vintage knock of 126, to revive a Kiwi innings that appeared to be running out of steam when he came in at 138 for five before tea on Thursday's opening day.

Yet he combined in a string of salvaging tailend partnerships of 58 with Daniel Vettori (21), 53 with Kyle Mills (29) and 36 with Chris Martin (0) to lift the battling Kiwis above 350.

The 26-year-old giant, playing in his 16th Test, raised his second Test century after his unbeaten 119 against South Africa in Hamilton last March and then took to the all-star Australian bowling line-up, hoicking Michael Kasprowicz for successive sixes and slamming Jason Gillespie for six and four off consecutive balls.

Oram's assault rattled the Australians with Test cricket's leading wicket-taker Shane Warne called for two wides by Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar as he attempted to stifle Oram's scoring with deliveries down the leg-side.

Warne finished his 29th over hurling down a bumper at Oram, who merely collected another run. Such was Oram's awesome hitting that he forced skipper Ponting to ring the boundary fence with fielders.

Warne ended the Kiwi innings three balls after lunch when he had Martin caught at bat-pad by Ponting to finish with 4-97 off 29.3 overs and improve his world wicket-taking record to 545.

Oram's belligerent hitting breathed new confidence and belief into the Kiwis and their bowlers responded with four wickets. Matthew Hayden continued his run of outs from the Indian series when he was trapped leg before wicket for eight to Kyle Mills in the sixth over.

Justin Langer went two balls after tea to a delivery from off-spinner Vettori which skidded off a crack in the pitch to have him lbw for 34. Ponting was looking in command but after raising his 24th Test half-century he pulled Martin next ball to a leaping Nathan Astle at square-leg for 51 leaving the home side 109 for three.

Darren Lehmann didn't enhance his chances of holding on to his Test place with an 11-ball knock of eight before he was caught behind by Brendon McCullum, giving Vettori his second wicket.

Martyn, fresh from his series-high 444 runs in India at 55.50, was Australia's great hope of reducing New Zealand's lead. His fluent half-century, his 20th in Tests, came up off 89 balls with five fours and a six off Martin.

Clarke, who spectacularly launched his Test career with 400 runs in the four-Test series in India last month at 57.14, provided staunch support for Martyn and the pair were threatening to turn the tide during Saturday's third day's play.

Scoreboard

New Zealand (1st innings) (250 for 7 overnight)

M. Richardson c Ponting b Kasprowicz 19

M. Sinclair c Ponting b Gillespie 69

S. Fleming c Warne b Kasprowicz 0

S. Styris c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 27

N. Astle run out (Clarke) 19

C. McMillan c Gilchrist b Warne 23

J. Oram not out 126

B. McCullum stpd Gilchrist b Warne 10

D. Vettori c Warne b Kasprowicz 21

K. Mills c Hayden b Warne 29

C. Martin c Ponting b Warne 0

Extras (b1, lb2, w3, nb4) 10

Total (all out, 117.3 overs) 353

Fall of wkts: 1-26, 2-26, 3-77, 4-138, 5-138, 6-180, 7-206, 8-264, 9-317, 10-353

Bowling: McGrath 27-4-67-0 (2nb), Gillespie 29-7-84-1, Kasprowicz 28-5-90-4 (2nb), Warne 29.3-3-97-4 (3w), Lehmann 4-0-12-0

Australia (1st innings)

J. Langer lbw b Vettori 34

M. Hayden lbw b Mills 8

R. Ponting c Astle b Martin 51

D. Martyn not out 59

D. Lehmann c McCullum b Vettori 8

M. Clarke not out 31

Extras (lb1, nb5) 6

Total (4 wkts, 57 overs) 197

Fall of wkts: 1-16, 2-85, 3-109, 4-128

Bowling: Martin 13-5-44-1 (2nb), Mills 12-6-33-1, Oram 10-1-43-0 (3nb), Styris 5-1-27-0, Vettori 17-4-49-2

Bad light ended play with 3 overs left

Toss: New Zealand

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) Aleem Dar (Pakistan)

Match referee: Mike Procter (South Africa). -AFP