Wellington, March 18: A gutsy stand of 145 between unheralded Gary Stead and Chris Harris helped New Zealand to 211 for six at the close of play on the first day of the third Test against South Africa at the Basin Reserve today.The home side had been 58 for four before the fifth wicket pairing ground South Africa's bowlers down with long periods of stubborn defence.Harris never looked happy or comfortable against a barrage of shot pitched bowling from the South African pace quartet but stead cleverly used the pace of the ball, on an excellent batting wicket, to collect singles and boundaries behind square on both sides of the wicket.The second new ball finally accounted for stead shortly before the close when he was magnificently caught by Shaun Pollock off the bowling of Steve Elworthy. Stead's 68 spanned three and a half hours and contained 10 fours from 154 balls.Elworthy collected a fourth wicket two overs before the close - Daniel Vettori (4) edging to Kallis at second slip but given theextent of New Zealand's recovery they could claim that honours were even, despite Elworthy's return of four for 58 from 21 overs.Harris, who will resume on the second morning on 66, survived a fit of vomiting just 25 minutes before the close, brought on by dehydration on a hot, sunny day, but recovered to survive the day after 172 balls and 225 minutes at the crease.The day began in poor style for Dion Nash whose decision to bat first once again seemed flawed when Matt Horne edged a perfect away swinger from Shaun Pollock to first slip to depart for two in the ninth over of the innings.Bryan Young also edged a delivery into the slip cordon when he had scored 18. Whereas Daryll Cullinan's catch to get rid on Horne was regulation, Jonty Rhodes' effort at third slip off the bowling off Jacques Kallis to remove Young was very special.After lunch, Nathan Astle, dropped on two by Paul Adams at cover before the break, received a magnificent away swinging yorker from Elworthy that hit off stump with thebatsman having scored a positive 20 from 38 balls with four boundaries.Elworthy then hit Roger Twose a vicious blow on the right elbow four balls later and, after lengthy treatment, the left hander edged his second ball after resuming to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher. Twose' innings of 12 lasted nearly two hours and 79 balls.ScoreboardNew Zealand (1st innings): Matthew Horne c Cullinan b Pollock 2, Bryan Young c Rhodes b Kallis 18, Roger Twose c Boucher b Elworthy 12, Nathan Astle b Elworthy 20, Gary Stead c Pollock b Elworthy 68, Chris Harris not out 66, Daniel Vettori c Kallis b Elworthy 4, Adam Parore not out 0Extras (18lb, 3nb): 21Total: 211 for sixFall of Wickets: 1-7, 2-32, 3-57, 4-58, 5-203, 6-207.To bat: Dion Nash, Simon Doull, Shayne O'Connor.Bowling: Shaun Pollock 22-10-30-1 (3nb), Steve Elworthy 21-7-58-4, Jacques Kallis 20-5-44-1, Lance Klusener 15-7-33-0, Paul Adams 7-2-12-0, Hansie Cronje 5-3-16-0.
