Live coverage has concluded, please click here for the full day's wrap.
New Zealand 482 all out - Nicholls 105, Blundell 96
South Africa 95 (Henry 7/23) & 34/3 - van der Dussen 9* Bavuma 22*
NZ lead by 353 runs
6:36pm - STUMPS
Another day New Zealand can claim.
Led by Nicholls and Blundell with the bat, the Blackcaps took a lead of 387 runs from their first innings, before skittling the South African top order.
The visitors will need another 353 runs just to make New Zealand bat again. Make no mistake, New Zealand will not lose this test from here, the only question will be if South Africa can save it.
Thanks for joining us for day two, be sure to come back at 11am tomorrow, as the Blackcaps push for a victory inside three days.
Until then!
6:33pm - 9 overs
Enough time for one last over. Southee to bowl, Bavuma on strike.
Bavuma plays an expansive cut, but can't beat Conway at point. Southee goes short, and Bavuma pulls him for four through square leg. Aggression in the final over of the day from South Africa.
Two balls to come. Southee strays onto the pads, and Bavuma clips it for four runs down to fine leg.
Last ball of the day. Length, and Bavuma defends. That's all for today!
SA 34/3
6:29pm - 8 overs
Henry to Bavuma.
Tossed up, and Bavuma drives into cover and they get three runs, van der Dussen faces up.
Straight from Henry, and van der Dussen works him to midwicket for one more.
Van der Dussen gets two more, again through leg. One ball to come, and van der Dussen can't beat short leg to steal one.
SA 26/3
6:25pm - 7 overs
Southee to van der Dussen. Can the Blackcaps get one more?
Southee strays onto leg stump, and van der Dussen glances down to fine leg for a single.
Bavuma faces up. He drives through cover and gets two more.
Bavuma defends to mid-on, and sets off for a single, but Jamieson can't gather to try and run him out. Bavuma survives.
SA 19/3
6:21pm - 6 overs
Henry continues, Bavuma faces.
Chance! Henry goes short third ball, and Bavuma just manages to fend the ball over a diving Nicholls at gully. The ball trickles away for four runs.
Chance! And again! Henry squares Bavuma up, and his glance drops just short of Young at short leg!
Bavuma survives.
SA 15/3
6:17pm - 5 overs
Southee to Markram.
WICKET! Three down! Southee squares Markram up, and the ball takes the edge through to Mitchell at first slip! Markram goes for two, and South Africa are in real trouble! Bavuma comes out at No.5, no sign of a night watchman.
Bavuma faces, and defends his first ball. He drives his second ball, and gets an edge through gully for four.
Bavuma sneaks a leg bye, and lets van der Dussen face the last ball of the over.
Full, and van der Dussen glances for two out to square leg.
SA 11/3
6:11pm - 4 overs
Henry continues to Elgar.
WICKET! And Henry strikes now, that's his eighth in the match! He comes around the wicket, and gets one to find the edge of Elgar's bat, and through to Blundell. Elgar goes for a nine-ball duck. Rassie van der Dussen in at No.4, South Africa in trouble.
Van der Dussen takes guard, and he gets off the mark with a straight drive for two.
SA 4/2
6:05pm - 3 overs
Southee to Markram.
Southee goes too straight, and Markram works the ball off his pads out towards deep square leg to get the innings underway with two.
Two runs from the over.
SA 2/1
6:01pm - 2 overs
Henry to share the new ball, with the Midas touch so far this test. Henry to Elgar.
Henry squares Elgar up second ball, and gets an outside edge all along the ground to second slip. No run.
Maiden over.
SA 0/1
5:58pm - 1 over
Southee to Erwee. Nine overs left today.
Swing first ball, and Erwee defends.
WICKET! And Southee strikes second ball! He traps Erwee on the crease, and the umpire gives him lbw! Erwee thinks about a review, but runs out of time. A second-ball duck for Erwee, and the South Africa lose their first before scoring a run. Aiden Markram is the new batter.
Markram to face, and he leaves his first ball alone. He sees off his first three balls, and drives the last of the over to cover.
SA 0/1
5:52pm
South Africa's openers make their way to the middle, with a pretty tough ask tonight.
Tim Southee to take the new ball, Erwee will face the first ball.
5:46pm
Such an unfortunate end for Blundell, but what an innings from the Kiwi keeper.
The lead has been pushed out to a huge 387 runs, and gives South Africa a tricky period to negotiate before stumps tonight.
We'll be back in a few minutes for the second innings.
5:45pm - END OF INNINGS
Jansen, over the wicket to Henry.
Henry drives a full ball out towards deep point and gets one.
Blundell has two balls this over, 96 on the board.
WICKET! Appeal for caught behind as the ball goes past the bat. Not out the call. Elgar reviews, but Verreynne doesn't seem confident. I tell ya what though, Blundell has hit it! He goes for 96 as the last man out.
NZ 482/10
5:40pm - 117 overs
This is now the highest partnership of the game, 86 at the moment. Rabada to Henry.
Width first ball, and Henry cuts up and over point and gets four more!
Henry defends to point and runs through for one more. Blundell on strike, and he pushes to cover and gets one more.
Henry on strike again, and he drives the last ball of the over to cover for one to keep the strike.
NZ 481/9
5:35pm - 116 overs
Jansen returns to the attack. Blundell on strike with 92.
He gets a single first ball, driving to long-off. Henry on strike.
Henry defends and steals a single, but there's a chance of a run out at the bowler's end. Henry makes it home though.
Blundell back on strike, and he gets two more with a chip into the leg side. On to 95, one hit away from a ton.
NZ 474/9
5:30pm - 115 overs
Markram to Henry. Blundell on 91 at the other end.
Tossed up from Markram, and Henry smashes the ball through cover for four! Henry moves to 49.
Make that 50! Henry pushes the ball to cover, and runs through for his second test fifty!
Blundell on strike, and he gets one into the covers.
Henry sees out the over.
NZ 470/9
5:27pm - 114 overs
Stuurman to Blundell.
Blundell turns the ball past mid-on and sets off for a single, looking for two but can't get it.
Henry faces. He's playing much more defensively now with the prospect of a Blundell hundred on the cards.
He gets an edge through gully for a single to end the over.
NZ 464/9
5:23pm - 113 overs
All good to go for the final hour of play. Markram continues to Henry.
Henry swats the first ball of the over into the leg side and gets a single.
Blundell faces up. He uses his feet and pushes a single towards cover, and moves into the 90s.
Henry bats out the over.
NZ 462/9
5:17pm - 112 overs
Stuurman to Blundell. The field has spread to allow him singles.
And Blundell obliges with one run out to deep cover.
Henry pushes one and scampers through for a single, but there's overthrows so they come back for three.
Blundell lofts through a vacant mid-on and gets one more, giving Henry the last ball of the over.
Henry gets one on the pads, and turns it out to square leg for another single. That's drinks in the final session.
NZ 460/9
5:12pm - 111 overs
Markram returns to the attack, Blundell on strike.
And he runs down the wicket and smashes a boundary back over the bowler's head first ball!
Blundell turns one down to long-on and gets one more.
One ball for Henry to face. And he sees it out.
NZ 454/9
5:09pm - 110 overs
Stuurman to Henry.
Length to start the over, and Henry plays back and smashes another boundary through cover! That takes the lead over 350!
Short, and this time Henry pulls the ball through midwicket for another three.
Blundell faces, three balls to come. He hammers a straight drive back at Stuurman, who fields it to keep them to one.
Lbw appeal with the final ball against Henry, but it's high and he might have hit it. Not out the call, and Elgar reviews it. No bat involved, but the ball's only just clipping the stumps, umpire's call stands.
NZ 449/9
5:04pm - 109 overs
Olivier to Henry.
Henry lofts the ball back over the bowler's head for four, and that's the 50 partnership between these two!
Henry then gets a short ball, that he pulls out to deep square leg for a single.
Blundell on strike, he cuts a ball out to deep point where Jansen fields to keep them to two.
NZ 441/9
5:00pm - 108 overs
Stuurman returns, Blundell faces.
Blundell pushes to cover and gets a single. Five more balls for Henry to face.
Short ball from Stuurman, and Henry swipes it out to deep point for one.
Short ball to Blundell, and he waits and cuts it behind point for four more.
One ball to come, and Blundell punches it straight back past Stuurman for four more!
NZ 434/9
4:55pm - 107 overs
Olivier to Henry.
Short ball from Olivier, and Henry leans back and whacks it over cover for four more.
NZ 424/9
4:52pm - 106 overs
Jansen to Blundell.
Another short ball to start, and again Blundell pulls into the leg side to give Henry five balls to face.
Henry gets a leading edge over cover, where Bavuma can't get up to attempt a catch. One more run.
Blundell on strike, three balls to come. Short ball, and Blundell pulls and gets two more out to deep midwicket.
Four to finish the over as Blundell clips the ball off his hip through square leg.
NZ 420/9
4:48pm - 105 overs
Olivier comes back, Blundell on strike.
Short ball to start, and Blundell pulls for another single to square leg.
Shot again! Henry back foot drives through cover for four more! That's the shot of a batter, never mind the No.11.
NZ 412/9
4:44pm - 104 overs
Jansen to Henry, over the wicket.
Shot! Henry plays back and drives through point off the back foot, gets four and raises NZ's 400!
Henry drives the fifth ball behind point, and they come back for two more. One ball to come.
Dropped! Another dropped catch! Henry slices the ball out towards deep point, where Erwee gets around and gets a hand to it, but he can't hang on. They come back for two more.
NZ 407/9
4:39pm - 103 overs
Blundell faces Rabada.
Again he takes a single first ball, tucking one to square leg.
Henry with five to face. He edges the ball over the slips for four, and that takes the lead past 300!
Henry then plays back and drives through cover and gets three runs.
Blundell on strike. He can't get a single to keep the strike.
NZ 399/9
4:36pm - 102 overs
Blundell faces, Jansen to bowl. How does he play this?
Blundell defends to leg and takes a single first ball, giving Henry five balls to face.
Henry to face his first ball, and he glances the ball off his pads for two runs to fine leg to get off the mark.
He survives the over.
NZ 391/9
4:31pm - 101 overs
Rabada replaces Markram from the other end, Blundell on strike.
Short ball to start, and Blundell pulls a single out to deep square leg.
Rabada will have five balls at Southee here. Make that six balls, no-ball called.
Chance! Southee fends at a length ball that spoons up and falls just short of the man at cover.
Dropped! South Africa put down another catch! Southee chips the ball towards mid-on, straight to Olivier - who puts down a dolly. Southee survives.
And to add insult to injury, he crunches the next ball behind point for four to get off the mark.
Another drop! Southee drives on the up to cover, where a diving van der Dussen can't reel it in! Two lives for Southee.
WICKET! This time they hold one! Southee backs away and swings, getting a top edge that goes skywards. Erwee does well to track back and hold onto the catch, sending Southee on his way for four. Matt Henry is the final batter.
NZ 388/9
4:26pm - 100 overs
Jansen to Blundell.
Shot! Jansen pitches one up again, and Blundell smokes it through cover, and doesn't even bother running, that's four every day of the week.
Blundell gets a single next ball, driving to deep point.
Southee drives the final ball of the over, but can't beat mid-off.
NZ 382/8
4:22pm - 99 overs
Markram to Blundell.
Length ball on leg to start, and Blundell plays with the spin to get two down to fine leg.
Blundell uses his feet and clips the ball towards deep midwicket for a single.
Southee to face Markram. And he plays out the end of the over.
NZ 377/8
4:19pm - 98 overs
Jansen to Blundell.
Jansen drops one in short, and Blundell pulls down to fine leg, where a misfield from Rabada goes for four and takes him to 50! Well batted, taking 95 balls with seven boundaries.
Blundell drives at the next ball, and gets an inside edge that misses the stumps, and lets him sneak a single.
Southee faces. He plays and misses at the fifth ball of the over, and defends the last.
NZ 374/8
4:15pm - 97 overs
Markram continues with the new-ish ball. Blundell on strike.
Blundell gets a single first ball, tucking one to deep square leg. Jamieson faces.
WICKET! And Jamieson falls to Markram too! He looks for the big shot, but can't clear mid-off, and gives Rabada a catch running backwards. Jamieson falls for 15, Tim Southee is in next.
How will Southee play Markram? We won't know just yet, Blundell is on strike.
Blundell gets a single to midwicket, Southee to face the final ball of the over.
Southee drives to cover, no run first up.
NZ 369/8
4:12pm 96 overs
Jansen to Jamieson, around the wicket.
Shot! Pitched up from Jansen, and Jamieson just extends to drive through cover point for four.
And again! Jansen too full to Jamieson, and this time he drives but doesn't quite get the timing, but still hits it well enough to come back for three.
Blundell on strike. Short, and Blundell turns the ball out towards deep midwicket for one more.
NZ 367/7
4:07pm - 95 overs
Markram continues, over the wicket to Blundell.
Short to start, and Blundell plays with the spin to get a single to square leg.
Jamieson takes guard. He gets a single to square leg and gives Blundell one ball to face.
Blundell defends.
NZ 359/7
4:04pm - 94 overs
Blundell takes strike, Jansen will open up after tea, around the wicket.
Blundell drives a full ball to mid-off, where a misfield from Stuurman lets them run through for a single.
Jamieson takes guard, and he ducks under the final ball of the over.
NZ 357/7
3:59pm
We're just about ready to resume for the final session of the day.
Blundell and Jamieson prepare to return to the crease, there's no pressure for them to do anything other than just bat. The Blackcaps are so far in front of the game, that there won't be any declaration tonight.
3:42pm - TEA
Another session for the Blackcaps, their fifth in a row.
Nicholls' eighth test ton, combined with a 76-run partnership between Blundell and de Grandhomme have taken the lead over 250, with some batting still to come.
We'll be back in around 20 odd minutes for the final session of the day.
3:41pm - 93 overs
Markram continues, tea approaching. Jamieson on strike.
Huge drive from Jamieson, straight back to the bowler though.
Too straight next up, and Jamieson turns the ball down to fine leg and comes back for two runs.
Markram comes around the wicket, and Jamieson responds by lofting him to wide long-on for four.
One ball to come, and Jamieson defends it.
That's also tea.
NZ 356/7
3:37pm - 92 overs
Jamieson will take strike straight away after the two batters crossed. Jansen comes into the attack.
Length first ball, and Jamieson defends. On the pads next up, and Jamieson gets a single to square leg, and that brings up NZ's 350.
Blundell on strike. Short ball, and Blundell looks to pull - but inside edges straight back onto his body. He's down in pain. He's back on his feet though, and retakes his guard.
Blundell sees out the over.
NZ 350/7
3:32pm - 91 overs
Bowling change, Aiden Markram will bowl his part-time off-spinners. Watch out if he bowls to de Grandhomme, but Blundell is on strike for now.
Blundell uses his feet and works the third ball of the over down to long-on for a single.
Here we go then, de Grandhomme v Markram. Tossed up to start, and de Grandhomme drives back to the bowler. Length next up, de Grandhomme defends to leg.
One to come.
WICKET! And de Grandhomme throws it away! He uses his feet and looks to clear the rope, but hits straight to Jansen running off the rope at long-on. De Grandhomme goes for 45, Kyle Jamieson is in next.
NZ 349/7
3:29pm - 90 overs
Stuurman continues for another over.
Shot! Pitched up, and de Grandhomme clobbers the ball through cover for four more!
Make that four more! Too full this time, and de Grandhomme whips the ball over midwicket for yet another boundary, his fifth so far. NZ's lead is also over 250.
Single to follow, as de Grandhomme tucks one into leg.
Blundell faces, and he gets one with a single to square leg.
NZ 348/6
3:24pm - 89 overs
Rabada to Blundell, South Africa desperate for a breakthrough.
Short ball, and Blundell pulls a single out to deep square leg.
De Grandhomme gets two more, defending into the leg side.
Chance! Rabada finds some shape with the new ball, and gets de Grandhomme's inside edge. But the ball beats Verreynne's dive, and races fine for four more.
One to come, and de Grandhomme tucks it to midwicket for one more.
NZ 338/6
3:21pm - 88 overs
Stuurman continues to de Grandhomme.
De Grandhomme pushes at a wide ball and gets an outside edge along the ground for two runs to third man.
Stuurman goes too full, and de Grandhomme clips another two wide of mid-on.
NZ 330/6
3:16pm - 87 overs
Rabada to Blundell.
Short ball, and Blundell gets up on his toes and punches three runs out to deep point. That's the 50-run stand between Blundell and de Grandhomme, and it's come in just 56 balls. Great batting.
De Grandhomme works the ball off his hip and gets one more to square leg.
NZ 326/6
3:13pm - 86 overs
Stuurman continues, Blundell faces.
Stuurman throws up a wide half-volley, and Blundell drives through cover for four more! He's played come fantastic drives so far this innings, and that's as good as any of them.
Blundell defends the next ball wide of mid-on, and steals a single.
One for de Grandhomme to face, and he works the ball down to fine leg for two runs.
NZ 322/6
3:08pm - 85 overs
Rabada to de Grandhomme, currently 21 not out off 17 balls.
De Grandhomme turns the ball to vacant square leg for an easy single.
Rabada goes short to Blundell, who pulls a single out to deep midwicket.
One to come, de Grandhomme on strike. He defends.
NZ 315/6
3:05pm - 84 overs
Olivier is taken out of the attack after that last over, Stuurman replaces him. De Grandhomme faces.
Wide down leg to start, de Grandhomme doesn't even shape to play it.
SIX! Short ball from Stuurman, and de Grandhomme swivels back to hammer it into the stands over fine leg for six!
Straight again from Stuurman, and this time de Grandhomme whips it for four through square leg. Straight again to follow, but this time de Grandhomme finds the man at deep square leg, and gets a single.
Blundell faces, and gets four leg byes down to fine leg.
Expensive over - 15 runs from it.
NZ 313/6
3:00pm - 83 overs
Rabada to de Grandhomme.
The first ball is pitched up, and de Grandhomme lofts through a vancant mid-off for four, and that pushes the lead over 200!
Too straight to come back from Rabada, and de Grandhomme turns to square leg for a single.
Blundell on strike, and he's hit on the pad for an lbw appeal, but not out the decision, probably missing leg.
Five runs from the over.
NZ 298/6
2:57pm - 82 overs
Olivier takes the new ball from the other end. Over the wicket to Blundell.
Too full third ball, and Blundell stands tall to drive back past Olivier for four through mid-off.
Short with the final ball, and Blundell turns the ball around the corner and gets four down to fine leg!
NZ 293/6
2:53pm - 81 overs
The new ball is due, but it looks like Rabada doesn't want it just yet.
Blundell drives straight to mid-on for no run, and Rabada takes the new ball afterwards.
Extra bounce with the new ball, as Blundell defends into the off side for a single to cover.
De Grandhomme to face, two balls to come. He plays them both out.
NZ 285/6
2:49pm - 80 overs
Olivier to Blundell after drinks. This is the first time in the innings two right-handers have batted together. One over until the new ball.
The fifth ball of the over is too full, and Blundell unleashes a textbook cover drive that just trickles to the rope for four more. Blundell gets off strike next ball, turning one through square leg.
NZ 284/6
2:42pm - 79 overs
Rabada returns to the attack, bowling to de Grandhomme.
De Grandhomme opens the face of the bat and steers two behind point. Just two runs from the over, and that's drinks.
NZ 279/6
2:38pm - 78 overs
Olivier to Nicholls.
WICKET! And he falls! Nicholls drives at a wide ball that takes the outside edge, and is comfortably held by Markram at slip. Nicholls goes for 105, a brilliant knock. Colin de Grandhomme is in at No.8 thanks to the nightwatchman.
Short to de Grandhomme, and he defends it into the leg side to start. Second ball is straight, and de Grandhomme whips the ball off his pads out to midwicket for three runs to get underway.
Three balls for Blundell to face. No-ball on what should be the last of the over, as Blundell sees it out.
NZ 276/6
2:32pm - 77 overs
Jansen to Nicholls, still around the wicket.
Nicholls defends to cover and gets a single. Blundell to face. He also defends into cover and steals one.
Nicholls takes the third single of the over defended into the covers - and it's a no-ball too. Things aren't going South Africa's way today.
NZ 273/5
2:26pm - 76 overs
Nicholls on 98, Olivier returns.
Century for Nicholls! Full to start, and Nicholls squeezes the ball behind point, and it goes for four! That's a brilliant hundred from Henry Nicholls, his eighth in test cricket - and up there with his best!
Olivier goes short, and Nicholls tucks a single to midwicket.
Blundell faces. He drives straight to cover, great shot for no run to end the over.
NZ 269/5
2:22pm - 75 overs
Nicholls on 97, facing Jansen. Around the wicket.
Bouncer to start, Nicholls ducks under it comfortably. Short again, Nicholls backs away and looks to ramp over the slips, but can't connect. Strange shot for Nicholls, whose been so assured until now.
Bouncer again, Nicholls ducks again. Jansen goes full now, and Nicholls tucks the ball away for another single, this time down to fine leg.
Blundell faces, two to come. Short to Blundell, who plays the perfect pull shot and gets four through square leg.
Dot ball to finish.
NZ 264/5
2:17pm - 74 overs
Stuurman to Nicholls, one shot away from his hundred.
Nicholls defends to point and jogs through for one, chance of a run out at the non-striker's end, but he doesn't hit the stumps. Nicholls would have been safe regardless.
Blundell faces. Stuurman goes too straight, and Blundell turns the ball out towards deep square leg and gets two runs.
NZ 259/5
2:13pm - 73 overs
Jansen continues to Nicholls.
Chance! Short ball from Jansen, and Nicholls cuts. Probably too close for the shot, and Nicholls gets a top edge that flies over the slips for four runs.
Short again from Jansen, and this time Nicholls cuts for a single out to deep point.
Blundell faces, three balls to come. Jansen comes around the wicket.
Blundell defends to end the over.
NZ 256/5
2:09pm - 72 overs
Stuurman to Blundell.
Stuurman overpitches, and Blundell hammers him through mid-on for four runs, his first boundary. That's NZ's 250 up as well.
NZ 251/5
2:05pm - 71 overs
Jansen to Nicholls, over the wicket.
Straight to start, and Nicholls turns the ball through midwicket and comes back for two runs to move into the 90s.
Lbw appeal fourth ball, but clearly heading down leg. Jansen hardly appeals, but Elgar seems interested. No review.
Just the two runs from the over.
NZ 247/5
2:01pm - 70 overs
Stuurman continues, over the wicket to Nicholls.
Stuurman strays onto Nicholls' hip, and is tucked for a single to square leg. That takes the lead to 150 runs.
Blundell faces, and plays out the rest of the over.
NZ 245/5
1:56pm - 69 overs
Jansen to Nicholls again, over the wicket.
Short to start, and Nicholls pulls one to fine leg. Blundell to face, five balls to come in the over.
Very tight leave first ball to Blundell, as the ball just clears off-stump on the bounce. Jansen beats Blundell next ball, again going over the stumps after passing the inside edge.
Blundell gets off the mark with a glance off his hip out to deep square leg for two. Same result final ball of the over, Blundell gets two more.
NZ 244/5
1:53pm - 68 overs
Stuurman takes the ball from the other end, around the wicket to Nicholls.
He starts straight, and Nicholls works a single down to fine leg off his hip.
Mitchell faces up.
WICKET! And Mitchell falls, as Stuurman has his maiden test wicket! Pitched up, and Mitchell looks to drive, gets an outside edge that flies to Elgar at first slip. Mitchell goes for 16, Tom Blundell is next in.
Blundell takes strike for his first ball, and leaves it alone outside off. Still outswing to the right hander.
Blundell plays out four balls to end the over.
NZ 239/5
1:47pm - 67 overs
Jansen over the wicket to Nicholls.
Huge wide down leg to start the session, Verreynne does well to save four byes, but they still run through for one.
Mitchell to face. Jansen overpitches, and Mitchell drives two more through cover.
NZ 238/4
1:43pm
Here we go then! Nicholls takes strike for the first ball after lunch, Marco Jansen has the ball.
Still 14 overs to go before the new ball is due.
1:35pm
We're nearly ready for the afternoon session.
Nicholls and Mitchell will resume, their partnership is 44 runs at the moment.
South Africa meanwhile need wickets, and quick. Any sort of lead over 200 will take away any already faint hope of a Proteas victory.
Stay tuned for what should be another enthralling session.
1pm - LUNCH
Stuurman will get another over before the break after all. He finds Mitchell's front pad with the fourth ball, but seemed to angle down legside, NZ 235/4
And that's lunch, after a session that saw New Zealand extend their lead to 140 runs, thanks mainly to Wagner's aggressive cameo as nightwatchman. The Blackcaps will have an opportunity to build their advantage towards 300 this afternoon, which could be a long one for South Africa, if they can't get an early breakthrough.
12:56pm - Jansen to Nicholls, wide down legside. Jansen finds the pads, but bouncing high, NZ 234/4
12:51pm - Stuurman replaces Rabada for maybe one over before lunch. Nicholls and Mitchell take singles, then Nicholls cuts for two.
Mitchell catches up with a ball down legside and it finds the boundary, NZ 233/4
12:48pm - Jansen to Mitchell, who hooks for two off the last ball, NZ 224/4
12:43pm - Rabada to Nicholls, who drops and runs a single. He edges and runs two, nice calling from the batters, then survives an lbw appeal, angling down legside, NZ 222/4
12:39pm - Jansen returns to the attack, but Nicholls immediately cuts him for four, NZ 218/4
12:35pm - Rabada to Nicholls, who edges through the offside for three, NZ 213/4
12:30pm - Olivier to Nicholls, who survives a leg-before-wicket appeal. Nicholls drives through cover for two.
Olivier tries to bounce Nicholls and it clears everyone, rolling away for four byes, NZ 210/4
12:26pm - Rabada to Nicholls. Was a maiden, but the throw produces and overthrow, NZ 202/4
12:21pm - Olivier to Nicholls, who prods through point for single. Mitchell wafts at a wide delivery, but misses altogether.
Mitchell plays back down the pitch, and there's a race to the boundary between ball and fielder. Ball wins, NZ 201/4
12:18pm - Rabada to Mitchell, maiden over, NZ 196/4
12:13pm - Olivier to Mitchell, who gets off the mark with an edge into gully.
Nicholls drives through cover for three and the lead is now 100, NZ 196/4
12:07pm - Rabada to bowl the first over after drinks. Will the break also break the batters' concentration?
Nicholls wants two from the first ball, but Wagner only wants one and his fifty.
OUT Wagner 49 c van der Dussen b Rabada
Wagner tries to stroke one through legside, but is caught near the boundary, one run short of his half-century. Mitchell is next in, NZ 191/4
Noon - Olivier to Nicholls, who cuts and runs for a single to give Wagner a chance at his fifty before drinks. He can't do it, NZ 190/3
11:56am - Stuurman to Nicholls, who plays off his legs for a single. Wagner now looking for two runs to bring up his second test fifty...
Wagner hooks, but only the single, NZ 189/3
11:52am - Olivier to Nicholls, who takes two off the first ball, NZ 186/3
11:47am - Stuurman to Wagner, who can't catch up with two balls heading wide down legside. Great work from the keeper to prevent any byes.
Wagner slashes through offside for two runs, then swings through legside for six, closing on his fifty, NZ 183/3
11:43am - Olivier enters the attack this morning, after two wickets yesterday. Nicholls plays him straight back down the ground for four, NZ 175/3
11:39am - Stuurman to Wagner, who takes a single off the first ball.
Nicholls takes two to complete his 13th test fifty in 80 balls, NZ 171/3
11:34am - Rabada to continue to Nicholls, who dabs the last ball behind square for four, NZ 167/3
11:30am - Debutant Stuurman will replace Jansen. Wagner works a ball of his pads fine for four, bringing up New Zealand's 150.
Wagner drives though the offside for another boundary, so Stuurman bounces him next ball.
South Africa set a field for the hook and Wagner obliges, but clears the boundary for six. That's the 50 partnership, NZ 163/3
11:26am - Rabada to Nicholls for the first time this morning and Nicholls wafts at the first delivery, but misses.
Nicholls tries to fend a delivery off his pads and the ball balloons to the slip cordon, but off the pads. A maiden over, NZ 149/3
11:22am - With the first ball of his next over, Jansen takes Nicholls on the pad, but heading down legside.
Nicholls drives through cover for three runs and Wagner will face Jansen for the first time this morning, NZ 149/3
11:17am - Rabada continues his battle with Wagner, who is trying to advance the scoring quickly. Seems like only a matter of time before Wagner finds an edge to some on-point bowling.
Wagner wafts at another delivery and finds the boundary again from another no-ball.
Next ball, Wagner drives back down the ground for four - the tailender showing his batting chops, NZ 146/3
11:13am - Jansen takes Nicholls' pad with his second ball and appeals vociferously. Given not out and no review requested.
Nicholls cuts sqaure for four, NZ 137/3
11:06am - Rabada to bowl first at the other end. Wagner lofts him over point for the day's first boundary - this could be fun!
Same stroke to the next ball, same result.
Next ball, Wagner tries to hook a short ball that never gets up and finds a bottom edge to fine leg for another four.
Full ball takes Wagner on the pad and prompts a healthy appeal. Given not out, but Elgar goes upstairs for a second opinion...
Balltracking shows the ball pitched outside leg-stump, so not out.
Last ball goes through Wagner... but it's a no-ball. The rebowl beats the outside edge, NZ 133/3
11:02am - Jansen to open the bowling effort this morning and nightwatchman Wagner takes three off the third ball, NZ 119/3
*****
Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the first cricket test between New Zealand and South Africa at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
The Blackcaps entered this encounter on the back of a drawn home series against Bangladesh, and without kingpins Kane Williamson (injury), Trent Boult (paternity leave) and Ross Taylor (retirement). They were vulnerable.
But while the absence of Boult from the new-ball attack is an obvious loss, replacement Matt Henry has simply stepped into his shoes to producer one of the great bowling performances in NZ cricket history, taking 7/36 on the opening day against the Proteas.
Boult himself has never bowled better.
Obviously, conditions suited the bowlers - NZ skipper Tom Latham won a rare toss and chose to field first - and even the Blackcaps top order struggled to gain traction at 36/2 early.
With the departures of Latham, Will Young and Devon Conway, much will depend on newly promoted Henry Nicholls this morning, with all-rounders Daryl Mitchell and Colin de Grandhomme, and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell the next three batters on call.
TAB Odds: NZ $1.06, South Africa $13.50, draw $15.50
NZ: Tom Latham, Will Young, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Sarel Erwee, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Zubayr Hamza, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Glenton Stuurman, Duanne Olivier
