28 March 2004	Sunday	06 Safar 1425

WELLINGTON, March 27: Two century partnerships put South Africa in a good position on 237 for three at the close of the second day's play in the third and final Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Chasing the home team's first innings total of 297, openers Herschelle Gibbs and skipper Graeme Smith shared a stand of 103 before Jacques Rudolph and Martin van Jaarsveld followed up with an unbeaten alliance of 101 for the fourth wicket.

Rudolph ended the day undefeated on 60, with van Jaarsveld 48 not out, although New Zealand did not help their cause by dropping two catches.

Van Jaarsveld was given a life on 23 when he chopped Chris Cairns above 6-foot 7-inch Jacob Oram's head but the gully fielder could not hold on to the ball.

Rudolph was then dropped by Mathew Sinclair at mid-wicket, a relatively simple head-high chance which went straight to him.

"For the first time in the series, we actually gave them wickets yesterday and today we surrendered day two as far as the batting was concerned," New Zealand coach John Bracewell told reporters.

"Shaun Pollock bowled very well into the wind. All their bowlers re-addressed their length and bowled very smart, and they got their rewards."

Earlier, Smith and Gibbs gave South Africa a flying start before the captain went for 47 after chopping a ball from Cairns on to his stumps.

Gibbs was dismissed for 77 by a brilliant catch from substitute fielder James Marshall, who hung on to a full-blooded drive at point off Chris Martin's bowling.

South Africa should have lost Gibbs when he was 46 as he edged an attempted pull off left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

Television replays showed he nicked the ball but umpire Asoka de Silva of Sri Lanka was unmoved.

Left-hander Gary Kirsten, playing in his last Test, was the third wicket to fall, caught behind for one in Martin's next over.

All-rounder Jacques Kallis, suffering from a torn abdominal muscle, was pushed down the order and has yet to bat.

"We knew at some stage they were going to bat well," Bracewell added. "It's hard work for a batter and getting in and feeling settled is the toughest thing.

"Those two guys (Rudolph and van Jaarsveld) dug in and...made it it hard for us."

New Zealand added 49 runs in the morning session after resuming at 248 for six, Cairns hitting 69 and Oram 34.

South Africa spinner Nicky Boje took four for 65 and all rounder Shaun Pollock claimed three for 85.

New Zealand lead the series 1-0.

Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings, overnight 248-6):

M.H. Richardson c Boucher b Kallis 14

M.H.W. Papps lbw b Ntini 7

S.P. Fleming c Pollock b Boje 30

M.S. Sinclair lbw b Boje 74

S.B. Styris b Boje 1

B.B. McCullum lbw b Pollock 55

C.L. Cairns b Pollock 69

J.D.P. Oram st Boucher b Boje 34

D.L. Vettori c Boucher b Pollock 0

M.J. Mason c van Jaarsveld b Nel 3

C.S. Martin not out 1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-1, NB-5) 9

TOTAL (all out, 104 overs) 297

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-23, 3-90, 4-97, 5-163, 6-248, 7-257, 8-257, 9-264.

BOWLING: Pollock 29-2-85-3 (4nb, 1w); Ntini 21-6-63-1 (1nb); Kallis 7-5-4-1; Nel 27-9-77-1; Boje 20-2-65-4.

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings):

G.C. Smith b Cairns 47

H.H. Gibbs c sub b Martin 77

J.A. Rudolph not out 60

G. Kirsten c McCullum b Martin 1

M. van Jaarsveld not out 48

EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-3) 4

TOTAL (for three wkts, 74 overs) 237

FALL OF WKTS: 1-103, 2-130, 3-136.

TO BAT: J.H. Kallis, M.V. Boucher, S.M. Pollock, N. Boje, M. Ntini, A. Nel.

BOWLING (to-date): Martin 13-5-34-2 (1nb); Mason 13-4-59-0; Oram 8-3-10-0; Vettori 23-5-71-0; Cairns 11-2-44-1 (2nb); Styris 6-2-18-0.-Reuters