KEY POINTS:
The refrain of "bowlers win tests, batsmen lose them" has never rung so true.
For the second day in succession, New Zealand's top order again butchered good work by the bowlers.
Chasing an imposing 327, New Zealand had battled to 133-4, having recovered thanks to Ross Taylor and Daniel Flynn from another horror start - only for it all to go wrong again at the end of the day, wincingly illustrated by Grant Elliott's decision to leave a Stuart Clark delivery which
clipped his off stump bail.
That took them to 143-6 at stumps, needing 184 to win. Elliott could not remotely be described as having the experience yet to withstand the pressure of the Australians in full blood lust - and Taylor and Daniel Vettori will begin today with any hopes New Zealand have pinned to the skipper's renowned fighting ability and the skills of Taylor, who finished the day unbeaten on a smooth 67.
Taylor and Flynn had offered a smidgen of hope with that entertaining fifth wicket partnership of 84; a fightback that might have made Ricky Ponting's sleep slightly less peaceful last night if it had lasted the day.
But Flynn, playing another gritty, technically sound and stubborn innings, began to have trouble with left-armer Mitchell Johnson and, when he was bowled through the gate by a fine in-ducker, New Zealand's hopes began to dim. After Elliott's dismissal, they started to fade like grandma's curtains.
At stumps on day two, the mood in the dressing sheds was bullish, with coach John Bracewell emphasising to his inexperienced team that they should make sure they enjoyed themselves because it was not every day you had the opportunity to compete evenly with Australia. In fact, the 15 years since the last victory over Australia would suggest it's not every 5000 days you get the opportunity.
The mood at stumps last night wasn't so positive but it wasn't entirely morose either.
The great pity is that New Zealand have now wasted three golden opportunities to strike at the heart of Australia's newfound vulnerability.
On Friday, having dismissed Australia for 214 on the first day, they succumbed meekly for 156. Then they had Australia reeling at 115-6 but
Simon Katich, abetted by two dropped catches, took them to 268. Third and finally, they failed to give Australia cause for any anxiety when defending 327 in the best batting conditions of the match, by gifting early dismissals.
Just like Friday, the top order offered Australia's bowlers the sort of resistance krill offer blue whales.
1-1, 30-2, 40-3, 49-4 - that's not batting, it is submission.
One day, Jamie How will make a test century, he is too good a player not to, but he might want to get around to it soon lest he becomes known as a good player who could not get over the hump.
He played his second horribly loose drive at Brett Lee to end his participation in this match. That he did it to the first ball he faced only exacerbated the embarrassment; that he became Lee's 300th test victim only ensured
he will feature in countless post-match replays.
He has many admirers because of his sound technique and shotmaking ability but a test average of 23.74 after 15 tests does not hint of under-achievement, it screams it.
Aaron Redmond is a different kettle of fish. Unlike How, there are still doubts about whether his technique is sturdy enough to withstand good bowling attacks. But he is a popular team-mate; the senior players crave success for him but with each failure, the anxiety and doubts increase.
Yesterday, he moved to 10 before tamely driving back to Stuart Clark, New Zealand finding themselves in the default-setting position of 30-2.
Problem being, this is not a line-up designed for 30-2. Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum are shotmakers all. It's exciting to think what they could do with a decent platform but at the moment that remains a concept, not a reality.
Ryder purred through to 24, disappeared for a cuppa and failed to trouble the scorers thereafter. The ball he received from Mitchell Johnson might have hit off stump but it might not have either.
The same could be said of McCullum's decision. Yes, it was a bad leave but only an umpire with extraordinary gifts could have thought it definitely would have clipped the top of off stump. McCullum has never enjoyed much luck with umpires at the Gabba but the fear for him would be that this one will provide more ammunition for the critics of his promotion to No 5.
That brought Flynn to the crease to join Taylor, the only two batsmen to have emerged with much credit from this test. Flynn's application can never be questioned and when he squirted one to third man to reach 13, he achieved the rare statistical anomaly of having a higher average (49.2) at that point, than his highest test score (49).
Taylor, this test sporting what looks like a slightly modified set-up, was all class in going through to his fourth test 50. Most of the loose slashes outside off stump that marked his first innings of 40 were gone.
They embarked on a course of resurrection but the damage had still been done higher up - and Flynn's dismissal after another brave knock has only emphasised the mountain the Black Caps must now climb.
They added 50 in decent time, Flynn unleashing a cover or drive or three to supplement his standard cut and nudge off the hip. It was heady stuff and should have had a couple of their batting colleagues shifting uncomfortably in their chairs as they made the art look simple.
Today it will be left to Taylor and Vettori to continue the mission improbable on day four, although senior paceman Chris Martin said they hadn't given up hope.
"We still think we're a chance. We've got Roscoe out there playing very well and we just have to keep the faith in our captain and hope the sort of the performance that the Australian tail put on today, we can potentially put on ourselves," he said.
"It's going to be a big ask, it is going to be a little bit of a miracle but it's something we will be trying hard for."
Martin, who sparked Australia's collapse with three wickets yesterday, said the missed chances hurt.
"They were crucial. For many touring teams that come to Australia, it seems to define whether you win or lose, how you field. We did put a couple down but for the majority of the game, we have fielded well."
In purely cricketing terms, it was a shame for the match and, ultimately, the series that New Zealand failed to polish off Australia's tail in the morning.
The test that had so much crackle and fizz on the first two days fell flat. The party was still going but someone had let the air out of the balloons.
The test drifted further from New Zealand's reach due to the brilliance of Katich, who carried his bat for 131. How Vettori must rue the two catches that went down from the opener's blade on 70 and 86. They were the difference between a tantalising target and a tall order.
New Zealand didn't bowl badly. The pitch was becoming more placid by the minute and Australia got the sort of late-order resistance from numbers 10 and 11 that the visitors can only dream about.
Johnson looked terrific in reaching 31, helping Katich add 53 for the ninth wicket, while Clark smeared 18 at No 11.
If it wasn't for that, Taylor and Flynn's revival might have been pushing New Zealand close to a shock victory, rather than respectability.
