Rachin Ravindra played a blinder, Tim Southee took a screamer, and New Zealand wrested control of the Test match at Christchurch's Hagley Oval. 

Here are the five quick hits from day three of the second Test in Christchurch.

1. Rachin Ravindra's sublime half-ton

At times this series, 24-year-old Rachin Ravindra has betrayed his relative inexperience, getting out with rash shots outside off stump.

But the rising star of New Zealand cricket added another line to his impressive resume on day three of this Test by notching an impressive half century of the highest quality.

With his biggest strength — driving and cutting into the off side — also providing Australia the hope that he would play a loose shot, Ravindra played confidently and positively.

His shot to reach 50 though was a beauty, driving past Mitch Marsh straight down the ground.

He looked on track to notch a second Test century, only for captain Pat Cummins to unseat him for 82.

2. Captain Pat's first-ball fireworks

On day two, Pat Cummins took the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson with the first ball of a late afternoon spell.

On day three, he repeated the dose. Replacing the wayward Mitchell Starc with the second new ball after lunch, Cummins bowled arguably the ball of the Test to dismiss the impressive Rachin Ravindra for 82.

Ravindra had batted supremely all day, but there was little he could do about this one.

From over the wicket, Cummins forced Ravindra back and squared him up with a shorter length. The ball then seamed dramatically across the batter, forcing him to follow it with hands and finding a feather edge through to the keeper.

Like Daryl Mitchell two overs earlier, who had been undone by a Josh Hazlewood beauty, there was nothing Ravindra could do but shrug his shoulders and head for the showers.

3. Marnus' costly Kuggeleijn drop

Throughout some of Labuschagne's recent struggles with the bat, his fielding as been a real shining light.

His catch to dismiss Tom Blundell was a cracker, diving to his right.

But when Scott Kuggeleijn edged towards him at second slip, he shelled the chance. 

New Zealand were 6-300 then and teetering dramatically.

Kuggeleijn is a controversial figure off the field in New Zealand cricket after two trials for rape in 2016 and 2017, the first of which resulted in a hung jury and the second found him not guilty.

He knew he should have been walking back to the pavilion after that dropped chance, and so took his chance with both hands.

He smashed 44 from 49, including five fours and two massive sixes to help New Zealand edge their lead past 250, before holing out on the on-side boundary.

4. How to bounce back from a drop, by Ben Sears

There's no feeling worse for a fast bowler than seeing an edge go to ground off your bowling.

When you're a 26-year-old playing in your first Test, it would be very, very easy to let your head drop.

Ben Sears didn't hide his disappointment when Daryl Mitchell shelled a chance off the second ball of his first over at second slip.

But, importantly, he didn't let it get to him.

So when, just two balls later, Marnus Labuschagne offered up a return catch off a leading edge, he pounced on it, stooping his frame to pick the ball off his shoe laces.

What a comeback for the youngster, who later had Cam Green playing onto his stumps as Australia's top order capitulated.

5. Southee screamer aids heroic Henry

Tim Henry has had a very good Test, taking 7-67 in the first innings and dismissing Steve Smith for just nine with a beauty of a delivery in the second. 

But even in that sort of form, he needed a bit of help from his friends to take his second.

Usman Khawaja was squared up by a beauty of a ball, the delivery taking a thick outside edge towards third slip, where Southee took a screamer.

Thanks to what we should describe as the "Mitch Starc effect" the third umpire checked to make sure the ball hadn't hit the ground, but there was no such luck for Khawaja.

The latest of a series of phenomenal catches in this Test stood and Australia was left teetering.