All options open in first Test
New Zealand battled to 137 for two at the close of play on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday after being set an imposing 401-run target to win.
The home side lost both openers cheaply before Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor came together and reduced the required total to 264 with eight wickets in hand by stumps.
When bad light stopped play four overs early, McCullum was not out 58 with Taylor unbeaten on 48.
If New Zealand do pull off an unlikely victory they will have to post their highest successful fourth-innings run chase, or alternatively they could salvage a draw with the arrival of forecast rain.
The Black Caps' current record fourth innings winning total is 324-5 against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994.
South Africa declared their second innings at 435-5 midway through the fourth day with Jacques Rudolph unbeaten on 105 -- the third centurion of the innings after Graeme Smith (115) and Jacques Kallis (113).
SCOREBOARD
SOUTH AFRICA: First innings 238 (Amla 62, Smith 53, Rudolph 52; Martin 4-56)
NEW ZEALAND: First innings 273 ( McCullum 48, Vettori 46; Philander 4-72)
SOUTH AFRICA: Second innings 435 for 5 declared (Smith 115, Kallis 113, Rodolph 105 not out; Bracewell 3-70)
NEW ZEALAND: Second innings 137 for 2 (McCullum 58 not out, Taylor 48; Philander 1-29)
Comments