New Zealand were reeling at 27-4 and heading for another heavy defeat with Australian bowlers Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon among the wickets in the third Test on Monday.
Australia declared their second innings at 217 for two with David Warner scoring an unbeaten century, leaving the Blackcaps with a revised 416-run target in the fourth innings on a wearing Sydney Cricket Ground pitch.
The Black Caps' task became even more monumental with Starc removing both openers, Tom Latham and Tom Blundell, in the first five overs.
New Zealand went to tea at 27 for four with Ross Taylor on 12 and BJ Watling yet to score.
Blundell fell to a stunning catch by a diving Lyon at point for two and stand-in skipper Latham lost a review for leg before wicket on umpire's call for one in a shattering blow to New Zealand's hopes.
Jeet Raval was out in a review to the faintest of edges on "Snicko" in Lyon's first over for 12 with the Kiwi innings unravelling under the onslaught from the Australian attack.
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First-innings topscorer Glenn Phillips went for a duck after tecnology detected a faint outside edge to wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Lyon leaving the Kiwis a shaky 22 for four.
Earlier, Warner completed his 24th Test century with a clip off his pads for three runs through midwicket and remained unbeaten when skipper Paine declared upon the dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne.
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