Saturday, November 24, 2001 HOBART, Australia (Reuters)
Australia coach John Buchanan believes the world champions have enough time to press for victory with two days remaining in the rain-interrupted second Test against New Zealand.

New Zealand, resuming at 0 for 0 on Saturday, made 71 for 2 in reply to Australia's 558 for 8 declared before play was abandoned for the day after just 35 overs at the Bellerive Oval.

"There are plenty of opportunities for the game to be won, from our point of view," Buchanan said.

New Zealand still need a further 288 runs with eight wickets in hand to avoid the follow-on and Buchanan said Australia's preferred option would be to send the tourists back in.

"That would seem to be the best option (enforcing the follow-on)."

"From our point of view, it's (the rain's) quite frustrating but there's nothing much you can do about that.

"If we've got a fine day and a good (dry) ball to hang on to, yes, I think we've got some real options there," Buchanan said of Australia's attack.

He said the wicket was providing some assistance for his bowlers, and a bit of turn for leg-spinner Shane Warne, who has so far taken one for 25.

"But it's almost a re-run of the Brisbane (first) Test at this stage, 210 overs still in the game, plenty of overs."

In the rain-interrupted Brisbane Test, which ended in a draw, Australia declared at 486 for 9 and 84 for 2.

New Zealand, who made 287 for 8 in their first innings, then fell just 10 runs short of their second-innings target of 284 to win with four wickets in hand.

The third match in the three-Test series starts in Perth on November 30.

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