New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram says the team must maintain their focus as they strive to save the second and final Test with Australia in Adelaide. The Kiwis, who lost the first match by an innings, will begin the final day on 149-5, needing another 315 runs to win.
"We just have to see what we can do because we're up against history, this is a huge chase and especially into the last day it's a huge ask," Oram said.
"It's purely about the next run, next ball, next over that's all we can do."
Oram admitted that victory was never in the minds of the beleaguered tourists.
"We haven't in the two partnerships I've been in talked about the end result or the bigger picture in chasing down 464," he said.
"All we can do is get through the small targets and see where we are."
New Zealand's highest fourth innings score to win a Test came in Christchurch in 1994 when they compiled 324-5 to beat Pakistan.
Australia coach John Buchanan believes his team timed their declaration perfectly, even though the final day weather forecast is far from ideal.
"It still left us with about 140 overs for the rest of match," he said.
 |  The type of cricket and how hard it is, is exactly how hard I thought it was going to be and that's why I'm enjoying it the most |
"It gave us the opportunity to bowl 50 overs so when we come back tomorrow the bowlers are still in very good shape.
"All things considered I thought what we did was the right decision and we are happy with the situation.
"The way our bowlers went about that pre-tea session it was exceptional bowling."
Oram is hoping that Brendon McCullum can continue his promising innings, which has already seen one towering six off Shane Warne.
"He strides out there with no lid (helmet) on, full of bravado," Oram enthused.
"Against a champion leg-spinner bowling into some pretty thick rough, it was great to watch.
Unique challenge
"He really took it to them and if he gets in on Tuesday he could be a huge key for us."
Oram added that playing Australia represents a unique challenge.
"I don't know if you can say we're batting poorly or they're bowling extremely well," he said.
"I look at the way they're bowling at the top of our innings and they just seem to be getting out of the pitch something we can't.
"They're bowling in very good channels and making us play and by that I mean defensively and they're not giving us anything to attack.
"The type of cricket and how hard it is, is exactly how hard I thought it was going to be and that's why I'm enjoying it the most."
MMIX
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