New Zealand Begin Positively After South Africa Make 474

Middle order batsmen Alviro Peterson and JP Duminy scored hundreds as South Africa declared their first innings at 474 for nine.

After bad weather had curtailed the play on the first two days of the test match, bright sunshine shone right through the third, which ensured that first full day’s play was possible. Starting on an overnight score of 246 for 2, Peterson and Duminy, who had already gone past their half century, piled the agony unto the hapless New Zealand bowlers on a good wicket. Duminy had just gone past his century and the partnership had made 200 runs, when Duminy fell for 103. Peterson, with help from AB de Villers (38), went past his 150 before falling for 156. Mark Boucher score 46 to take South Africa past 450. Mark Gillespie for New Zealand took 6 wickets for 113 runs.

Having already lost a lot of time in the match, South Africa declared their innings with 25 overs still left to play in the day. New Zealand, who had an embarrassing batting display while losing the second test, needed to negotiate a tricky period of play before the end of the day. South Africa’s opening bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander bowled a testing spell to New Zealand openers Daniel Flynn and Martin Guptill. Through pluck and chance the openers survived. Morkel, who bowled first change, looked threatening too, but on a wicket that offered little seam movement wickets were not easy to come by. New Zealand ended the day at 65 for no loss.

New Zealand are already 0-1 down in the three match test series, and a draw might be their best result in this third match.