Brisbane, Australia: Ricky Ponting is searching for an elusive century to save his Test career. He led an Australian fight back on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba on Friday.

Without scoring a century in his previous 28 Test innings and under pressure to keep his place, he had a few close shaves to have Australia in reasonable shape at 154 for three in reply to New Zealand's 295 at stumps.

The former skipper, whose last big innings of 209 against Pakistan in Hobart was almost two years ago, was unbeaten on 67 with his successor Michael Clarke not out 28. He unfurled some of his classic drives and pulls among his 11 boundaries to look back in scoring nick.

Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon said that, “Ricky's one of the legends of the game. We all have confidence in him and we're going to back him up right to the end of the day. He's awesome, so hopefully he can go on and get a big one tomorrow.”

Ponting and Clarke's unbroken 63-run stand rescued the home side after the loss of David Warner (3), Phil Hughes (10) and Usman Khawaja (38) for 91 runs.Twenty20 specialist Warner's Test innings debut lasted just three balls before he was out in the over before lunch when he failed to get out of the way from a superb lifting Tim Southee delivery and was caught off the gloves by wicketkeeper Reece Young.

Daniel Vetorri, who remained the top scorer from New Zealand’s side said that “I don't think anyone really gave us a chance of scoring almost 300 in those conditions and all the talk and all the history of the wicket indicates that's a good score, I think we're feeling good about ourselves but we do need to back it up with the ball tomorrow and that first session will be the key and not let the game get away from us.”