Pattinson puts Australia on victory path

Lunch New Zealand 295 and 7 for 121 (Brownlie 40*, Pattinson 5-27) trail Australia 427 by 11 runs

James Pattinson collected three wickets in his first over of the day © Getty Images

James Pattinson demolished New Zealand's top order to put Australia within sight of victory on the fourth day at the Gabba. A triple-wicket maiden from Pattinson in the second over of the day left New Zealand stunned and when he broke through again shortly afterwards the visitors were in monumental trouble at 5 for 28.

By lunch, Nathan Lyon had also chipped in with a wicket and Michael Hussey's part-time medium-pace had accounted for Daniel Vettori to leave New Zealand at 7 for 121, still needing 11 more runs to make Australia bat again. The loss of Vettori came in the final over before the break, which meant Dean Brownlie went to lunch on 40 with Reece Young set to join him in the next session.

Vettori (17) and Brownlie had put on 52 for the seventh wicket to stage a fightback for New Zealand but the loss of Vettori, who edged to slip when he tried to steer Hussey to fine man, was a crippling blow. The Australians almost had Brownlie in the previous over when David Warner's first ball of legspin in Test cricket was pulled to deep midwicket, where Pattinson spilled a tough, diving chance.

The Australians could forgive Pattinson for the mistake. It was thanks to him that they were in the position they were in. Having struck before stumps on the third day, Pattinson picked up where he left off in a remarkable over that brought three wickets and nearly a hat-trick as New Zealand failed to handle Pattinson's fine outswing.

Martin Guptill (12) got a short ball that was fended to Usman Khawaja at short leg and two balls later, Kane Williamson sent a regulation edge to Ricky Ponting at second slip. Ross Taylor also failed to counteract the swing of Pattinson and tickled a catch behind first ball, to leave Pattinson on a hat-trick, which almost came thanks to a wonderful yorker that Jesse Ryder was slow on.

Fortunately for Ryder, the ball was just a fraction wide of off stump, but Pattinson's wickets kept coming a few overs later when the nightwatchman Doug Bracewell edged behind for 2. Pattinson had the extraordinary figures of seven overs, five maidens, 5 for 7, and he had become the third Australian bowler to take a five-for on Test debut in the past four months.

And like Lyon and Pat Cummins, Pattinson did so without ever having taken a five-wicket haul in first-class cricket before. Ryder counterattacked with six boundaries in a near run-a-ball 36 but Clarke's clever decision to take the pace off the ball by bringing on Lyon paid off immediately, when Ryder failed to clear mid-off and was caught.

It was a terrible piece of judgment from Ryder, who as one of the last recognised batsmen needed to settle in for a long innings. His departure left New Zealand at 6 for 69, and it was only through Brownlie and Vettori that the visitors pushed within sight of making Australia bat again.

Brownlie was again impressive after his first-innings half-century, but he needs an enormous score and tail-end support to give New Zealand any hope of saving the match. The forecast for Brisbane on Monday suggests a few showers, but if Australia's bowlers keep up their good work, the match won't make it to the fifth day.