Strong reply by the Kiwis

Craig McMillan was the other not out batsman on 31 when stumps were drawn, with the pair adding 64 runs for the fourth wicket in a little over 11 overs.

The New Zealand reply began shakily when they lost Michael Papps and skipper Stephen Fleming cheaply to be struggling at 12 for two when Styris joined Mark Richardson.

Papps8217;s wicket was a significant one for Shaun Pollock, who overtook Alan Donald as South Africa8217;s leading wicket taker in Tests with 331.

8220;I8217;m really chuffed about it,8221; Pollock said. 8220;When you start your career you concentrate really hard on getting your first wicket. Now I8217;ve beaten someone like Alan Donald.

8220;In a way, it8217;s sad to go better than someone8217;s record like that, but I8217;m glad I8217;ve done it and now I8217;ll concentrate on trying to win the match.8221;

The belligerent Styris and the methodical Richardson hauled the home side out of trouble with a record third wicket partnership of 125, beating the 50-year-old mark against South Africa of 94 set by Matt Poore and Bert Sutcliffe in Cape Town. As the partnership progressed, Styris provided the big hits and Richardson the deft touches, although the left-handed opener went out to an aggressive shot. Reuters

BRIEF SCORES

South Africa 1st innings: 296 GC Smith 88, HH Gibbs 80, JH Kallis 40; C Martin 6/76, Oram 2/60

New Zealand 1st innings: 201/3 MH Richardson 45, SB Styris batting 118, CD McMillan batting 31; Pollock 1/31, Kallis 1/54.