5.15pm New Zealand 71 for 2 (Richardson 25*, Fleming 16*); bad light stopped play A spectacular thunderstorm, which made the Bellerive Oval look more like a boating lake, eventually blew itself out. No play was possible between lunch and tea, but the covers had just been taken off for a 5pm inspection when it started raining again. Shortly afterwards the umpires confirmed that there would be no further play today.

The odds have now tilted strongly in favour of a draw. The pitch is still playing well, although Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie extracted some sideways movement early on. New Zealand have only lost two wickets so far - 18 more, with rain in the air, might even be beyond this awesome Aussie attack.

2.52pm New Zealand 71 for 2 (Richardson 25*, Fleming 16*); bad light stopped play

After losing Mathew Sinclair to the first ball after lunch, New Zealand survived the remainder of the ten overs possible before the weather closed in again. Dark clouds rolled over Hobart, and with a thunderstorm jagging lightning uncomfortably closer to the ground the umpires took the players off even though Steve Waugh was about to bring on his brother Mark to ensure that there were slow bowlers at both ends.

Shortly after the players left the field the thunderstorm hit the Bellerive Oval in emphatic fashion, lancing rain almost horizontally across the ground. The patient Saturday-afternoon crowd may well have a long wait before play can resume.

Before the break New Zealand had advanced in stately fashion to 71, still 288 short of making Australia bat again. There was little loose stuff from the metronomic Glenn McGrath (11-6-11-0) and the meteoric Jason Gillespie (11-5-18-1), although Fleming did once clip Gillespie sweetly off his pads for four to midwicket.

2.11pm New Zealand 53 for 2 (Richardson 23*, Fleming 0*) need 306 more to make Australia bat again

It took Australia only one ball after lunch to break through. Mathew Sinclair, who had looked solid before the interval, propped forward uncertainly to a beautiful ball from Jason Gillespie which nipped back at him. Sinclair missed it, and the ball cannoned into the stumps (53-2).

The new batsman was Stephen Fleming, New Zealand's captain, who has an ordinary record against Australia. He averages only 20 against them, compared with an overall career average approaching 37.

Lunch New Zealand 53 for 1 (Richardson 23*, Sinclair 23*) need 306 more to make Australia bat again

On a morning which was supposed to have been half-an-hour longer than usual, but was actually shortened by 75 minutes because of rain, New Zealand made a steady start in pursuit of Australia's imposing total.

The only casualty was Matthew Bell, the opener whose curious crab-footed technique leaves him open to late swing and seam movement - something which there was plenty of as Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie galloped on with the new ball. Bell took 33 balls to get off the mark - and then off-drove McGrath for a couple to celebrate - but he had made only 3 from 47 balls when Shane Warne had him caught behind, under-edging a sweep onto his pads (11-1).

Mathew Sinclair, who was born in Crocodile Dundee country in Australia, almost nudged Warne twice to Steve Waugh at leg slip in his first five balls, but survived to play a more expansive game than the man he had replaced. Sinclair has a hint of that old Kiwi favourite Andrew Jones about him, as he jumps into back-foot strokes and flicks his arms extravagantly at the ball.

Sinclair and opener Mark Richardson had put on 42 by lunch, by which time both of them had made 23. Richardson, a correct left-hander, was watchful but wasn't too restricted to capitalise on anything wayward. When Warne uncharacteristically lobbed down a full-toss and a long-hop in his fifth over, Richardson whacked them both away to the boundary.

New Zealand have their work cut out at Hobart, but they will be satisfied with this first session. The trouble is, there are eight more to come - although the extra bounce and swing, which came courtesy of the overnight rain, is beginning to evaporate now.

12.45pm New Zealand 16 for 1 (Richardson 6*, Sinclair 5*) need 343 more to make Australia bat again

New Zealand did little more than survive against the fast bowlers - Matthew Bell didn't score a run until his 33rd ball - but it was spin that made the first breakthrough for Australia.

Shane Warne struck with his second ball, when Bell bottom-edged an attempted sweep onto his pad, from where it bounced up for Adam Gilchrist to complete the catch (11-1).

It was almost a double breakthrough: the new batsman Mathew Sinclair, who was born in Australia, squeezed his first ball from Warne close to Steve Waugh at leg slip for the runs which took him past 1000 in Tests. Three balls later Sinclair repeated the shot, even closer to Waugh, who got a hand to it as he dived but couldn't hold on.

11.40am Australia 558 for 8 dec; start delayed

The rain relented enough for the groundstaff to clear the covers off the ground at Hobart, and play was due to start 75 minutes late on the third morning.

The rain has gingered up the pitch a little, and New Zealand will face a tricky first session against the combined talents of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee. The rain has also slowed down the outfield, which will further hamper New Zealand's chase for 359 to avoid the follow-on.

10.30am Australia 558 for 8 dec; start delayed by rain

The third day's play at Hobart was supposed to start half-an-hour early in an attempt to make up some of the time lost during yesterday's five-hour rain-break - but the drizzle returned to scupper that idea.

Menacing clouds meant that chances of a quick restart were remote. New Zealand won't be broken-hearted about the delay: they will begin their quest for 359 to avoid the follow-on when play does commence. Rumours that the Kiwis have been seen performing an old Maori rain-dance are beginning to circulate round the sparse Saturday crowd at the Bellerive Oval.

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