Bracewell triple-strike gives NZ a chance

Lunch Australia 136 and 5 for 173 (Warner 95*, Bracewell 3-18) need 68 runs to beat New Zealand 150 and 226

David Warner played with pain to guide Australia towards the target © Getty Images

Doug Bracewell struck three times in the shadows of lunch to give New Zealand a chance of defeating Australia in the second Test in Hobart.

The hosts' chase of 241 for victory has been guided expertly by David Warner, who battled a back complaint apparently strained when diving to avoid a run-out, but the loss of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey, all on 159, left Australia a nervous 5 for 173 at the interval, still requiring 68.

Phillip Hughes had been dismissed without addition to his overnight score, yet again caught by Martin Guptill from the bowling of Chris Martin, and Usman Khawaja was again out for a useful but not sufficiently consequential tally. Bracewell's pre-lunch spell, characterised by swing, bounce and sharp variation, confirmed his pre-series billing by the New Zealand captain Ross Taylor as a cricketer of enormous potential.

Hughes and Warner resumed in morning sunshine, aware that morning session had been the most difficult in which to bat during this match. Martin shared this knowledge, and he swiftly made use of it by finding another delivery that seamed across Hughes to be snapped up by Guptill in the slips. Hughes had been out in that manner each of his four innings for the series, and he walked off knowing he could not expect to be retained for the Boxing Day Test.

By contrast Warner did not let the bowlers settle, punching through the offside with rare power, though it was an edge over the slips cordon off the bowling of Bracewell that delivered his first Test half-century.

Khawaja provided sound support for a time, but Warner twinged his back when diving for a run-out and was visibly inconvenienced. Perhaps trying to take more responsibility for scoring, Khawaja drove loosely at a wide delivery from Trent Boult and was held by Taylor, who did brilliantly to hold his poise as Guptill dived across him from second slip.

Ponting emerged for what may well be his final Test innings in Hobart, and played himself in with a handful of crisp shots. Warner was regaining some freedom of movement at the other end, and lunch emerged into view with the hosts in apparent control.

However Bracewell had been moving the ball consistently, and varying his pace with intelligence. Ponting was undone by a delivery that stopped on him as he tried a signature back-foot drive, and lobbed gently off the toe of his bat to cover. The crowd offered a generous ovation, but it was not acknowledged, Ponting lost in his own thoughts and frustrations at letting New Zealand back into the contest.

Bracewell had troubled Clarke all series, shaping the ball both ways from his muscular body action, and he now prised out Australia's captain with an away swinger that Taylor claimed at the second attempt. His next ball also swung, beating Hussey's bat to strike the pad in front of middle and leg. A not out verdict was referred by Taylor, and within moments Bracewell was on a hat-trick.

Warner top-edged a hook at Martin then drove with conviction to move well into the 90s, and after Haddin survived Bracewell's hat-trick ball the teams walked off for lunch. An arresting finish awaits.