Kane Williamson was denied the chance to walk off the Gabba undefeated when New Zealand’s first innings ended after lunch on the third day of the first test today.
He was last man out, caught behind off left armer Mitchell Starc for a splendid 140, as New Zealand were dismissedfor 317, trailing Australia by 239.
Williamson got his runs off 178 balls, with 24 boundaries, in a virtuouso performance on a very hot day in Brisbane.
Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee were out after lunch in quick order.
Starc finished with four for 57, Mitchell Johnson took three for 105 while one wicket apiece fell to Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Marsh.
Australia chose not to enforce the follow on.
Williamson’s 11th test century had given New Zealand something to smile about for the first time in the opening test.
His brilliant innings gave him his eighth hundred outside New Zealand and only Zimbabwe remain to complete a full set of centuries against test-playing nations.
Williamson had laid the groundwork on the second afternoon, and began today on 55.
His driving was picture perfect, his footwork impeccable, his array of shots impressive and he completed his century with a fast-run two to mid wicket off Mitchell Johnson, raising his arms in delight and getting a standing ovation from sections of the small crowd. It had taken just 129 balls, and included 17 boundaries.
Earlier in the over he had hurried on from 90 with a brace of scintillating boundaries, cut through point and cover driven to the fence.
Only Martin Crowe (17), John Wright and Ross Taylor (both 12) stand ahead of Williamson among New Zealand centurymakers. His 11 put him level with Nathan Astle and captain Brendon McCullum.
The day began encouragingly for New Zealand with Williamson and BJ Watling taking their overnight stand to 67 before Watling touched the first delivery of the day from Johnson to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.
Williamson and Mark Craig then put on a further 44 before the offspinner rashly tried to hit against the spin off Nathan Lyon and lobbed a catch to point.
But the morning belonged the the 25-year-old from Tauranga, who continues to press on towards setting new marks for batting achievement for New Zealand.
He has scored the most runs in international cricket this year in all forms, the only batsman to pass 2000, and he joined AB de Villiers (South Africa), Joe Root (England), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) and Steven Smith (Australia) as the only players with six centuries in all formats this year.