The BLACKCAPS will need to display their fighting spirit once again after South Africa’s Makhaya Ntini continued his devastating form on the fourth morning of the first Test in Centurion.
Ntini took five wickets in the first innings, and added four more for just 19 runs in an eight-over spell as the tourists were reduced to 34 for six at lunch.
Dale Steyn provided back-up with two wickets for 13 off six.
The BLACKCAPS progressed to 89 for seven when bad light enforced an early end to the afternoon session, which had began late because of rain.
Hamish Marshall remained unbeaten on 22, and Daniel Vettori on 12, after a typically explosive cameo by Brendon McCullum, who hit two fours and a pair of sixes for his 33.
Earlier, Ntini was trapped lbw by Daniel Vettori for 16, with the Proteas added 19 to their overnight score to finish all out for 299.
The paceman extracted revenge almost instantly, removing opener Peter Fulton, caught Mark Boucher for two, and Kyle Mills without scoring.
Steyn claimed the wickets of Stephen Fleming (six) and Scott Styris (two) before Ntini swept Nathan Astle and Jacob Oram, both for two.
