Philander's six keeps pressure on New Zealand

New Zealand 275 (Guptill 59, Philander 6-81) trail South Africa 474 for 9 dec by 199 runs
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Vernon Philander became the fastest man to 50 Test wickets in 116 years, as he bagged his sixth five-wicket haul in his seventh Test. New Zealand had staved off collapse for 87 overs, but succumbed weakly soon after tea on day four. Only Mark Gillespie's edges past the wicketkeeper ensured New Zealand managed the 275 required to make South Africa bat again, and with Taylor unable to resume his innings, the hosts lost their last five wickets for 33 runs.

Kane Williamson and Daniel Vettori had resumed assuredly after tea, with Vettori in particular combating the short-pitched bowling with boundaries either side of the wicket. South Africa had taken the second new-ball before the break, but hadn't achieved the kind of movement they had induced at the beginning of the day. They persevered with their back-of-a-length plan though, and their rewards came in a heap.

Williamson flirted with one that took his edge, giving Steyn his second wicket, before Philander waded in to scythe through the lower order. Vettori was caught at gully, then Doug Bracewell edged one onto his stumps off his second delivery. Kruger van Wyk's attempts to propel New Zealand beyond the follow-on total proved his demise - he was caught at deep fine leg off a top-edged pull, with New Zealand still needing 12 to avoid batting again.

Gillespie swung wildly, with only Chris Martin for company, and the ploy paid off. Two consecutive edges flew to the fine boundary, and New Zealand were saved that ignominy, just.

Tea New Zealand 231 for 4 (Williamson 39*, Vettori 6*) trail South Africa 474 for 9 dec by 243 runs

Ross Taylor retired hurt after receiving a vicious blow to the wrist from Morne Morkel © AFP

New Zealand progressed quietly to 231 for 4 on the fourth afternoon in Wellington, with Kane Williamson unbeaten on a resolute 39, after the top three fell in the morning. Ross Taylor partnered Williamson at the beginning of the session, but retired hurt after receiving a vicious blow to the wrist. Philander moved into contention for yet another five-wicket haul when he dismissed Dean Brownlie for 29, and with New Zealand scoring at only 2.75 an over, they are yet to make a play for a series leveling win.

Taylor was subdued for his 18, dabbing Marchant de Lange and Vernon Philander into the pitch throughout much of his stay, with New Zealand intent on preventing another middle-order collapse. Williamson matched that watchfulness, swaying away or getting on top of the bounce comfortably as de Lange unleashed a short-pitched spell. He ventured a pull stroke eventually, dispatching it to the square leg fence, but neither batsman was flustered by a sleepy run-rate, even if New Zealand's only hope to level the series leant on surpassing South Africa quickly.

But just as Taylor began to play more freely, he took his eyes off a Morne Morkel bouncer, which proved costly. The ball thudded into the bone in his wrist raising a fearsome bump, and though he initially opted to bat on after an extended break and plenty of pain-relief, he left the field next ball, deciding the pain was too serious to play through.

Dean Brownlie helped Williamson steer the run-rate north, whipping a tailing Dale Steyn yorker through midwicket in his first over at the crease, then piercing the off side field with a spate of cover drives soon after, as the pair put on 59.

South Africa persisted with the short ball, but New Zealand were largely untroubled by it - both Williamson and Brownlie punishing de Lange square when his lifters didn't quite get high enough. Brownlie edged between slip and keeper, to reap the fifth reprieve of the day for New Zealand's batsmen, but he eventually fell to the pull that had proved so productive. Steyn settled under a top-edge at fine leg to give Philander his third wicket.

Vettori batted resolutely till tea, with New Zealand inching towards the follow-on target of 275. With Taylor receiving X-rays for a suspected fractured ulna, his association with Williamson may be crucial to preventing a loss - which barring a miracle, is the best New Zealand can hope for given only four sessions remain.

Earlier, New Zealand were granted no less than four reprieves, but still lost three wickets to a relentless South Africa pace attack that kept the hosts pinned throughout the session. Vernon Philander took two wickets, dismissing Daniel Flynn in his first spell, before removing Martin Guptill on the stroke of lunch, while Dale Steyn was unlucky to only have the wicket of Brendon McCullum, after creating three chances that were shelled in the in-field. Guptill benefited from the poor catching, but provided the substance to New Zealand's reply, with a watchful 59.