Australia set New Zealand 464 to win then ripped through the touring side's top order to leave the Kiwis struggling on 149 for five at the close of the fourth day's play in the second Test on Monday.

Captain Ricky Ponting declared Australia's second innings closed 13 minutes after the lunch break at 139 for two, handing the Black Caps the almost impossible task of batting through nearly five sessions to save the Test.

New Zealand limped to the tea break at 36 for four at Adelaide Oval, with their leading run scorer and captain Stephen Fleming already dismissed for three.

Nathan Astle and all-rounder Jacob Oram put on 63 for the fifth wicket before Astle was caught by a diving Justin Langer off part-time spinner Darren Lehmann for 38 at 97 for five.

Oram remained unbeaten on 40.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum hit leg spinner Shane Warne for an effortless six over mid-wicket in scoring a quickfire 34 not out from 36 balls including five fours to give the Kiwis some hope of saving the match.

Australia lead the two-match series 1-0.

EARLY WICKETS

Pacemen Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath, who shared seven wickets between them in New Zealand's first innings of 251, were quick to break through again on Monday.

Gillespie trapped Mathew Sinclair lbw for two in the fourth over, before McGrath knocked over Fleming's off-bail just six balls later.

Michael Kasprowicz had Mark Richardson caught at third slip by Langer for 16 at 34 for three and one ball later, Warne removed Scott Styris for eight, caught at slip by Michael Clarke.

Australia had begun the day with some cautious batting, resuming on 57 for no wicket and adding just 82 runs in 35 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Ponting was not out 26 while Damien Martyn was unbeaten on six.

Langer (46) and Matthew Hayden (54) shared an opening stand of 93 on Monday after putting on 137 for the first wicket in Australia's first innings, their 13th century stand.

Western Australia's Langer hit 215, his 20th Test hundred, in Australia's first innings of 575 for eight declared, which included 5-152 from left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

Five other batsmen, led by Lehmann's 81 and Hayden's 70, made half-centuries in Australia's first innings.

Fleming led all scorers in New Zealand's first innings with an elegant 83.

Scorecard

Australia (1st innings): 575-8 decl.

New Zealand (1st innings): 251

Australia (2nd innings): (overnight 57 for no loss)
M Hayden c McCullum b Vettori 54
J Langer lbw b Wiseman 46
R Ponting not out 26
D Martyn not out 6

Extras: (nb-1, lb-6) 7

Total: (for 2 wkts decl, 56 overs) 139

Fall of wickets: 1-93, 2-119.

Bowling: Martin 6-1-11-0, Oram 5-1-17-0, Franklin 5-0-18-0, Wiseman 22-3-52-1, Vettori 18-2-35-1

New Zealand (2nd innings):
M Richardson c Langer b Kasprowicz 16
M Sinclair lbw b Gillespie 2
S Fleming b McGrath 3
S Styris c Clarke b Warne 8
N Astle c Langer b Lehmann 38
J Oram not out 40
B McCullum not out 34

Extras: (nb-1, lb-6, b-1) 8

Total: (for 5 wkts, 53 overs) 149

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-18, 3-34, 4-34, 5-97.

Bowling: McGrath 7-2-14-1, Gillespie 11-3-27-1, Kasprowicz 8-4-15-1, Warne 18-5-55-1, Lehmann 9-0-31-1.