Alviro Petersen and JP Duminy batted South Africa into a commanding position with an unbroken 140-run partnership at the close of play on the weather-affected second day of the third and final Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve. Petersen was on 96 and Duminy 76 as the visitors steadily accumulated runs after the start of play was delayed by constant drizzle for almost four and half hours,pushing South Africa to 246 for two when bad light stopped play. The 31-year-old Petersen had been dropped by Martin Guptill on 68 after nicking a Doug Bracewell delivery,but was in sight of his third Test century when umpires offered the option of leaving the ground with 12 overs remaining in the days play. Resuming on 136 for two,Petersen and Duminy were rarely troubled as New Zealands attack battled a howling,chilly northerly wind throughout the 37 overs they managed to bowl. Petersen had survived a loud lbw shout on the first ball of the day from Chris Martin and was then dropped by Guptill,who dived full length to where third slip would have been standing,only to have the ball strike his forearm. Duminy brought up his fourth test half century when he top-edged the next delivery over the slips for his sixth boundary. Brief scores: South Africa 246 for 2 (Alviro Petersen 96 batting,J.P. Duminy 76 batting,Hashim Amla 63; Doug Bracewell 1/46) vs New Zealand.
