Perth: Ross Taylor made the highest test score by a visiting batsman in Australia before he was out for 290 on Monday, helping lift New Zealand to a first-innings total of 624 on day four of the second test.
After conceding 65-run lead on the first innings, Australia slipped to 46 for 2 before rallying with a 212-run partnership between skipper Steve Smith (131 not out) and Adam Voges (101) to reach 258 for two at stumps on the penultimate day.
Australia leads by 193 runs and, with the pitch remaining benign despite the appearance of cracks, a draw seems the most likely result with three sessions to play.
Taylor's total surpassed that of England's R.E. 'Tip' Foster, who scored 287 against Australia in Sydney in 1903, as the best by a visiting batsman in a test match. He fell just short of becoming only the second batsman to score a triple century against Australia after Len Hutton, who did it in England in 1938.
Taylor's innings is the third highest by a New Zealand batsman. He batted for nine and half hours, facing 374 balls and hitting 43 boundaries, and was last man out in what was New Zealand's highest total against Australia.
Taylor's 374-ball innings is the highest by a New Zealand batsman overseas, and third highest behind Brendon McCullum's 302 against India in 2013/14 and Martin Crowe's 299 against Sri Lanka in 1990/91 at Wellington.
The only chance he gave was when Mitchell Marsh dropped him on 137 off Mitchell Starc (4-119).
Australia won the opening test by 208 runs at the Gabba last week and appeared to be on course for another win at the WACA after winning the toss and racing to 559-9 declared on the second day.
But Taylor reveled on a WACA pitch devoid of its usual dangerous pace and bounce, and provided the backbone of an innings that was the highest by any visiting team at the WACA.
It was Taylor's first century in 12 innings since he scored 104 against Pakistan in Dubai last year.
Smith was forced to bat at No.3 for Australia after Usman Khawaja strained a hamstring and was ruled out of the rest of the test series, forcing a reshuffle in the Australian order.
Dropped on 96 by wicketkeeper B.J. Watling off seam bowler Matt Henry, Smith brought up his 12th test century with his 13th four. It helped Smith take his tally for 2015 to 1,186 runs with five centuries.
Soon after reaching his century Smith was hit on the helmet by fast bowler Trent Boult and needed medical attention before resuming the innings. Otherwise, Smith and Voges scored freely and quickly in a partnership that has lasted almost four hours.
Batting the second time, Australia lost openers Joe Burns (0), and Dave Warner (24) soon after lunch — the first time in the series the Australian openers have failed to put on 100 for the first wicket.
Burn drove loosely at a Tim Southee delivery and was caught by Taylor at first slip.
Warner, who scored 253 in the first innings, smashed five fours in 22 balls before driving a low catch to Tom Latham at cover of left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult.
