Summary New Zealand were 197-4 at lunch on day four of the second Test against Australia on Tuesday.
CHRISTCHURCH (AFP) - New Zealand captain-in-waiting Kane Williamson led a determined second innings fightback Tuesday to begin setting Australia a target as tempers frayed in the second Test at Christchurch.
The morning session on the fourth day ended with Australia visibly animated over an unsuccessful Josh Hazlewood lbw appeal against Williamson.
The hotspot showed the ball clipped the base of the bat but the Australians argued with the onfield umpires claiming the decision was wrong.
Australian Adam Voges had said before the resumption of play that Williamson s wicket was "huge" in the game and it was the second lbw appeal they had turned down against New Zealand s leading batsman as he neared his 14th Test century.
Williamson was a picture of patience and concentration against the reverse swing of the Australians as he and all-rounder Corey Anderson batted through the session.
They took New Zealand from 14 runs behind to 62 ahead when they went to lunch at 197 for 4.
Williamson, having resumed the day at 45, had moved to 89 with Anderson on 35.
They came together when New Zealand were on the ropes at 105 for 4 after starting their second innings 135 in arrears.
In an intriguing first session on the fourth day New Zealand survived two other vociferous leg before wicket appeals.
Williamson was given out on 54 to Hazlewood but the batsman called for a review which showed an inside edge.
Australia lost a review when a James Pattinson shout against Anderson on 17 was turned down, and the replay again showed it was bat first.
Three balls later, Anderson had a life when he drove Pattinson straight to Mitchell Marsh in the gully but the fielder was unable to grasp the head-high opportunity.
When Williamson reached 60, driving Marsh down the ground for two, he became the fastest New Zealander to score 4,000 Test runs, achieving the milestone in his 89th innings.
The previous record was held by Martin Crowe who took 93 innings.
The 25-year-old Williamson, who will take over the New Zealand captaincy following the retirement of Brendon McCullum at the end of this Test, ended the morning session in sight of his first Test century of the year after scoring five in 2015, including two against Australia.
