New Zealand enjoy a 33-run lead in Dunedin after finishing their first innings on 341.
Runs, as well as wickets have been hard to come by on day three at the University of Otago Oval. That said, both teams have shown patience and determination to earn their respective rewards.
Earlier in the day, Kane Williamson went past the 100-mark for the 16th time in Tests. The Black Caps skipper and BJ Watling put on 84 runs for the sixth wicket.
The Proteas endeavoured to keep scoring to a minimum. The Kiwis added a meagre 57 runs to their tally in the second session. They lost two wickets before tea and were four runs shy of the visitors’ total at that stage.
Kagiso Rabada produced a special delivery to remove Williamson for 130. Watling and Mitchell Santner battled along at fewer than two runs per over, until the latter lost his patience and hit Morné Morkel to Keshav Maharaj at cover.
Watling played well to reach 50 and then lost his wicket at the stroke of tea. Maharaj fired the ball in a little quicker and the wicketkeeper-batsman was not equal to the task.
New Zealand took the fight to South Africa after tea. Neil Wagner was particularly aggressive and ultimately the hosts added 37 valuable runs before the innings came to an end.
The fall of the final wicket also marked Maharaj’s maiden Test five-for.
SA 308 (1st innings) – Dean Elgar 140, Temba Bavuma 64, Trent Boult 4-64, Neil Wagner 3-88
NZ 341 (1st innings) – Kane Williamson 130, Jeet Raval 52, BJ Watling 50, Keshav Maharaj 5-94
New Zealand lead by 33 runs
Photo: Dianne Manson/Getty Images
