New Zealand kept themselves firmly in the first Test with Australia on Friday after Jacob Oram blasted a career-best 126 not out to help the Kiwis reach a healthy first innings total of 353.

When stumps were drawn early on day two because of fading light, Australia were 197 for four in reply, 156 in arrears.

Damien Martyn, named player of the series in Australia's recent tour of India, continued his good form with an unbeaten 59 while new batting sensation Michael Clarke was 31 not out.

The pair lifted the home side from an unhealthy 128-4 and although the Australians still have Adam Gilchrist to come on a Gabba pitch that traditionally favours the batsmen they have already lost the vital wickets of Matthew Hayden (8), Justin Langer (34), Ricky Ponting (51) and Darren Lehmann (8).

"We'd like to think we might have the upper hand because we've got them four down and the fact we're going to be bowling last on it," Oram said.

"There's some cracks opening up already and if we can knock them off early tomorrow and bat well in the second innings and set them a total then we'll be pretty keen to bowl last on that pitch."

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne said the world champions needed a good day on Saturday to get back into the match.

"It's shaping up as a good Test match," he said. "But we have to try and wrestle back some momentum."

"They did extremely well to get 350 and it was pretty disappointing from our point of view but you've got to give New Zealand credit for that.

"They always seem to lift (themselves) and do well against Australia. They'll keep fighting but hopefully day three will be Australia's day."

BATTING COLLAPSE

Hayden was given out leg before wicket to a ball that hit him above the knee roll but Langer and Ponting briefly steadied the ship with a second wicket stand of 69 before Langer was struck on the pads by left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

Ponting was unusually hesitant in the initial stages of his knock but slowly grew in confidence and brought up his 50 with a straight drive for four off Chris Martin only to be caught by a diving Nathan Astle at square leg next ball.

Australia dipped to 128-4 when Lehmann top-edged Vettori to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum but Martyn and Clarke came to the rescue with an unbroken partnership of 69 at almost a run per minute.

Earlier, Oram staged his own rescue mission to complete his second Test century, cracking 12 fours and three sixes to pass the unbeaten 119 he made against South Africa earlier this year.

He had come to the crease the previous day with New Zealand in trouble at 138-5 but tormented the most potent attack in world cricket until running out of partners.

"It's only my second Test century but this one means a lot more to me. It was against Australia, the best team in the world, in their backyard and also the time I went into the wicket," the giant all-rounder said.

"We were in a spot of bother when I came in so to play a leading hand in turning the ship around was very special to me."

Oram was well supported by Kyle Mills, who chipped in with a gritty 29, and last man Martin, who failed to score but batted for half an hour to allow Oram to go from 92 to 126 not out.

The Kiwis had resumed on 250-7 and their hopes of making 300 seemed doomed when they lost Vettori for 21 with the total on 264, edging fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz to Warne at first slip before the tail wagged again.

Warne eventually removed Mills and Martin to share the bowling honours with Kasprowicz, both men taking four wickets, though the damage had already been done.

Scoreboard

New Zealand (1st innings): (overnight 250-7)
M.Richardson c Ponting b Kasprowicz 19
M.Sinclair c Ponting b Gillespie 69
S.Fleming c Warne b Kasprowicz 0
S.Styris c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 27
N.Astle run out 19
C.McMillan c Gilchrist b Warne 23
J.Oram not out 126
B.McCullum st Gilchrist b Warne 10
D.Vettori c Warne b Kasprowicz 21
K.Mills c Hayden b Warne 29
C.Martin c Ponting b Warne 0.

Extras: (b-1, lb-2, nb-4, w-3) 10.

Total: (all out, 117.3 overs) 353

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-26, 3-77, 4-138, 5-138, 6-180, 7-206, 8-264, 9-317

Bowling: McGrath 27-4-67-0 (nb-2), Gillespie 29-7-84-1, Kasprowicz 28-5-90-4 (nb-2), Warne 29.3-3-97-4 (w-3), Lehmann 4-0-12-0.

Australia (1st innings):
J.Langer lbw Vettori 34
M.Hayden lbw Mills 8
R.Ponting c Astle b Martin 51
D.Martyn not out 59
D.Lehmann c McCullum b Vettori 8
M.Clarke not out 31.

Extras: (lb-1, nb-5 ) 6.

Total: (for four wickets, 57 overs) 197

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-85, 3-109, 4-128

To bat: A.Gilchrist, S.Warne, J.Gillespie, M.Kasprowicz, G.McGrath

Bowling: Martin 13-5-44-1 (nb-2), Mills 12-6-33-1, Styris 5-1-27-0, Oram 10-1-43-0 (nb-3), Vettori 17-4-49-2