DUNEDIN: Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis steered South Africa out of trouble after early setbacks against New Zealand on the third day of the first Test at University Oval on Friday.
At tea South Africa were 175 for two in their second innings, leading New Zealand by 140 runs with Smith unbeaten on 80 and Kallis not out 66.
The New Zealand first innings was wrapped up early in the morning session for 273 after some powerful hitting by tailender Trent Boult, giving the home side a 35-run lead.
Shortly after the visitors knocked off the deficit, Doug Bracewell removed Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla in the same over, bringing Smith and Kallis together with the score at 47-2.
But the South African captain and the veteran all-rounder were seldom troubled by the New Zealand attack as they methodically added 87 runs in the middle session.
Bracewell has been the only successful New Zealand bowler.
Petersen was a soft dismissal, with the opener lofting the ball straight to Tim Southee at mid-off when on 25.
Amla, who starred with the bat in the recent one-day series and made 62 in the first innings, was quickly gone for two, brilliantly caught by a diving Martin Guptill at second slip.
New Zealand resumed on the third day with a five-run lead. Lusty hitting from Boult saw 34 runs put on for the last wicket with Chris Martin, who was the final wicket to fall, caught by Amla off Dale Steyn for five.
Boult finished unbeaten on 33 with 22 of the runs coming off one over by Vernon Philander, who was the pick of the South African bowlers with four for 72.
