Gillespie takes six but SA make 474

1st innings South Africa 474 for 9 declared (Petersen 156, Duminy 103, Gillespie 6-113) v New Zealand

Mark Gillespie's impressive return to Test cricket continued as he completed his second five-wicket haul in as many matches, but the strikes did little to rein in South Africa, who declared 30 minutes into the third session. Gillespie took both wickets after tea to finish with 6 for 113.

The visitors were intent on forcing the run-rate after a quiet second session, with Mark Boucher and Vernon Philander forcing the field back with a belligerent burst after tea. Boucher peppered the square boundaries either side of the wicket, targeting an off-colour Doug Bracewell in particular, while Daniel Vettori, who has taken only two wickets for 245 runs so far in the series, was pushed comfortably for singles into a now-vacant infield.

Gillespie nabbed Boucher in the gully, as the batsman attempted another expansive stroke, but Morne Morkel ensured the pace did not abate, slogging Vettori into the crowd without batting out a sighter. He was dropped next over by Martin Guptill, who ran backwards from slip, but it costs the hosts only a run - Philander holing out to deep midwicket next ball to prompt the declaration.

Tea South Africa 437 for 7 (Boucher 30*, Philander 18*) v New Zealand

New Zealand clawed through South Africa's middle order in the first period in the match the hosts can claim to have won © AFP

A string of wickets in the second session lifted New Zealand from the dire to merely the desperate, but South Africa remained well ahead in the Test, moving to 437 for 7. Chris Martin and Mark Gillespie took two wickets each, clawing through South Africa's middle order in the first period in the match the hosts can claim to have won, but the wickets were still too few and the score already too large to give New Zealand anything more than a thin chance of levelling the series.

Movement off the pitch had largely evaded New Zealand throughout the innings, but a reinvigorated attack led by Martin used the seam to reap their most fruitful session of the Test. Alviro Petersen had scarcely played a false stroke in the first session, but was trapped in front by a Martin indipper in the first over of the second. AB de Villiers then fell to a similar ball four overs later, inside edging onto his middle stump.

Gillespie also found immediate reward for movement, removing Jacques Rudolph for 11 with another one that wobbled off the seam. Rudolph, who had tweeted his disapproval of the Wellington weather the previous evening, can hardly have improved his opinion of the place after a failure with the bat.

Dale Steyn preceded Vernon Philander to the crease, but was soon sent back, again by Gillespie, who surprised him with a foot of extra bounce. For the first time in the match, New Zealand had prevented opposition partnerships from taking root, and having toiled for 3 wickets while South Africa amassed 362, the hosts had suddenly taken 4 for 42.

Philander partnered Mark Boucher astutely, exercising caution and opportunism in equal parts - much as the top order had done previously, and the pair put on an unbeaten 33 without offering a chance.

Earlier, hundreds from Alviro Petersen and JP Duminy had consolidated South Africa's dominance, and taken them to a near unassailable position. Petersen had been perched on 96 overnight, and although New Zealand had the new ball with which to eke a nervous stroke, Petersen moved to triple figures as smoothly as he had navigated the wind and the rain on day two. A cover drive off Chris Martin's fourth ball reaped the first two runs of the day, before a rasping cut brought his third Test ton, confirming his place in the batting order after four muddling performances on tour had put it in jeopardy.

His approach changed little following the milestone as he stuck methodically to the scoring strokes that had carried him to his first success in New Zealand. Drives straight and through cover were measured out when the hosts went looking for swing, and the pull again proved productive, particularly off Daniel Vettori, who had bowled a touch short throughout the Test.

JP Duminy moved deep into the nineties with three consecutive cover drives, handsomely struck off Doug Bracewell, but was made to wait 18 balls to move from 98 to 100. He did not allow his anxiety to turn into rashness, though. A clip off the pads brought him his century - the second in his career after the match-winning 166 at the MCG in 2008. The pair had put on 200 for the third wicket before Duminy was caught at slip off Gillespie.