Guptill posts ton in NZ's pink-ball game

Martin Guptill found form and flayed an inexperienced Western Australia attack on Sunday, posting an unbeaten century against the pink ball.

Guptill retired after scoring 103 on day two of the two-day fixture at the WACA, where New Zealand were 4-301 at the dinner break.

BJ Watling also enjoyed some quality time at the crease, scoring 81 before he was out edging to Ryan Duffield.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor didn't bat in the first two sessions after being demoted down the order in the tune-up for the inaugural day-night Test.

NZ's only previous pink-ball experience came in a home training camp and last month's 50-over clash in Canberra.

Guptill hit 94 in that one-day clash at Manuka Oval, his only other score of substance on the current tour.

Guptill looked a different batsman against WA compared to his inability to reach 25 in all four knocks during the Test series.

Australia's star-studded attack will present a lot more challenges at Adelaide Oval than the likes of Liam O'Connor, a 22-year-old legspinner yet to make his first-class debut.

But the leading run-scorer of this year's World Cup clearly regained some of his natural aggression in a productive three-hour stint at the crease.

"He's a quality player at the international level and I don't think he's far off producing some of the innings we know he can produce," NZ batting coach Craig McMillan predicted on Friday.

"One of the important things I talk to Gupp about is encouraging him to play similar to his one-day game."

Guptill did exactly that, hammering O'Connor for a fourth sixth to bring up his ton off 107 balls.

O'Connor had figures of 1-82 from 15 overs at the meal break but his wicket was the prized scalp of Brendon McCullum.

McCullum bludgeoned the pink ball all over the park before he was stumped on 49, charging down the wicket and trying to heave O'Connor's second delivery over the fence.

McCullum's 40-minute blitz was the highlight of Sunday's first session.

The Blackcaps skipper came to the crease at 2-63 and wasted few of his 28 balls, attacking David Moody and Duffield at almost every opportunity.

At one point WA had three men on the leg-side rope as McCullum mixed power with panache.

McCullum broke a bat when he cracked a bouncer from Duffield back over the paceman's head for six.

Keeper Josh Inglis snared catches to dismiss Tom Latham and Hamish Rutherford, who were both undone by Andrew Tye in the first session.

It was agreed pre-match that both sides would bat for one full day.