11:21 IST:
South Africa, on the other hand, will be feeling a lot better getting that wicket in the final over considering the way things panned out after they were at a commanding position early on in the second session. After early setbacks and the dismissal of skipper Neil Brand, who looked promising, the Proteas found themselves in early trouble at 39 for 3 wickets. However, Zubayr Hamza and David Bedingham steadied the ship with a solid 4th wicket partnership of 65 runs, only for Hamza to depart cheaply, putting South Africa on the back foot once again. Yet, Keegan Petersen stepped up admirably, forming a commendable partnership of 98 runs for the 5th wicket. The highlight of the day was David Bedingham’s century, which played a pivotal role in helping South Africa reach the total they did. However, the tail-enders failed to contribute significantly, and momentum shifted back to the Kiwis as the Proteas were bundled out for 235 runs, setting New Zealand a target of 267. As they did in the first innings, Dane Paterson and Tshepo Moreki maintained tight lines and lengths with the new ball. The star with the ball of the first innings, Dane Piedt gave them the finish they needed by trapping Devon Conway in front. The match is well poised for Day 4 and could be the final day of this Test match with the Kiwis requiring 227 more runs whereas South Africa will be on the hunt for the remaining nine wickets. The action on Day 4 will begin at 3.30 am IST (10 pm GMT, the previous day), but you can join us much earlier for all the build-up. Until then, cheers and goodbye!
