Matthew Renshaw has given his Ashes hopes a boost with yet another big score for Australia A in their tour match against New Zealand A in Lincoln.
Renshaw followed up his first-innings knock of 112 with a quick-fire 78 off 72 balls as the visitors declared at 2-218 in their second dig.
It set the Kiwis a victory target of 365, and they went to stumps on day three at 0-31, needing a further 334 runs to win.
Openers Henry Cooper (18no) and Sean Solia (13no) will resume on Tuesday.
Renshaw's big knocks come at a perfect time for him given the question marks surrounding David Warner's Test future.
Warner's lean run with the bat in the Test arena over the past 12 months means he's no certainty to be picked for the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval in June and the ensuing Ashes series in England.
Renshaw played the last of his 14 Tests in India earlier this year, posting scores of zero, two and two in his only three knocks of the series before being dropped.
Despite those failures, the 27-year-old remains in the Ashes mix, and his form at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in NZ will further strengthen his chances.
Renshaw cracked 11 fours and two sixes in the second innings as Australia A ramped up the run-rate in a bid to give themselves enough time to bowl out the hosts for a second time.
Australia A made 6-370 declared in the first innings, and they rolled NZ A for 224 courtesy of big displays from pace duo Spencer Johnson (4-53) and Wes Agar (4-56).
Mitchell Swepson, who is aiming to snare a ticket to the Ashes as Australia's back-up spinner, finished with 1-51 from 12 overs.
Cole McConchie top-scored for NZ with 74, while Tom Bruce chipped in with a handy 48.
