Brad Haddin's maiden Test century handed Australia a 230-run lead over New Zealand at stumps on the third day of the second Test at Adelaide Oval.
Australia were dismissed for 535 late on day three with Haddin's knock of 169 the highlight, part of a 181-run sixth-wicket partnership with Michael Clarke, who contributed 110.
New Zealand trailed by 265 after the first innings but chipped off 35 runs after a positive nine-over stint before the end of play with Aaron Redmond (15) and Jamie How (13) unbeaten at the crease.
Brett Lee found the edge on several occasions but went for 16 runs off his first over as Australia failed to end a superb day on a high with a scalp.
Hussey and Haddin came together when Michael Hussey and Andrew Symonds were sent back in quick succession by Chris Martin in the morning.
Clarke, who was bowled for 98 in the first Test at the Gabba, gave his fans a scare as he closed in on triple figures.
He pushed the ball out onto the leg side, hesitated mid-pitch, before completing the single that notched up his ninth Test century.
The right-hander was eventually dismissed when he slashed at a wide delivery from Iain O'Brien and was caught by Jesse Ryder in the gully to end his 239-ball innings.
Haddin smashed three boundaries off four Ryder deliveries to race to 97 before he completed his century with a mid-wicket four a couple of overs later.
Haddin had some luck with Daniel Flynn dropping the simplest of catches at mid-on when he was on 72, while an appeal for a bat-pad catch was turned down despite appearing to catch an edge and glove on the way through.
He continued to dominate after tea and used the slog-sweep to bring up his 150 before he smashed 17 off one Redmond over before he was caught on the mid-wicket fence by Peter Fulton.
Brett Lee contributed 19 and Mitchell Johnson added 23 as New Zealand struggled to sweep up the Black Caps tail.
O'Brien finished with figures of 3-111 while Redmond, captain Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin all collected two wickets each.
Vettori was the workhorse of the Black Caps attack. The captain bowled just shy of 60 overs for figures of 2-124.
Australia started day three on 241 for three, but were momentarily put on the back foot when Martin removed Hussey and an unlucky Symonds in the same over with the new ball.
Hussey miscued a pull shot and was caught by Redmond at square leg while Symonds was caught behind for a third-ball duck although it was unclear if it had taken the outside edge.
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