Two hugely embarrassing incidents for Australia's administrators on day three of the Perth Test, an excruciatingly long delay in play due to a sightscreen malfunction and yet another replacement of an out-of-shape ball, turned out to be blessings for Australia's Test team. 
The first achieved what none of the Australian bowlers were able to: halting the effortless scoring of Kane Williamson. The second, after just five overs of the second new ball, brought on the first concentration lapse from Williamson in his 6Â¼ hours at the crease.
The end of Williamson for 166 was not as consequential as expected given how much he has carried the Black Caps' batting so far in the series, because of the vastly improved form of Ross Taylor, who also passed 150. Taylor and Williamson shared a 265-run partnership that not only bolstered their team's hopes of saving the game - or better - but earned them the record partnership at the WACA Ground and by any New Zealand pair in Australia.
The fine batting of the Black Caps batsmen, and the lack of penetration from the Australian bowlers, combined to subdue the Perth crowd - until it was snapped back into life by the speed of Mitch Starc.
Starc should have had the wicket of New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for five, but missed out when Nathan Lyon fumbled an opportunity at third slip even easier than the one he spurned at point at the Gabba. The left-armer seemed to channel his anger into exceeding his typical peak of about 150km/h. McCullum needed a replacement bat after losing a chunk off the toe as he jammed down on a 154.8km/h yorker from Starc.
The appeal of extreme pace was illustrated when the crowd which had seen the home team take only one wicket in almost 50 overs greeted a dot ball with an almost disbelieving cheer. The reason? Confirmation on the scoreboards Starc had just produced the fastest recorded delivery in Test history: an 160.4km/h yorker kept out by Taylor. The Black Caps moved towards, and then past, 400 by tea.
Australia's first innings of 9-559 declared evidently was not daunting for New Zealand.