Kiwis fight back after slumping to 119

Kiwis took two late wickets as the home side reached 133-4 at the close in reply to the Proteas' first innings total of 119 at stumps on first day.

South Africa led New Zealand by 14 runs at stumps on the opening day of the third Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday.

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New Zealand took two late wickets as the home side reached 133-4 at the close in reply to the visitors' first innings total of 119 after South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bowl.

Unbeaten at the close for South Africa were Ashwell Prince and A.B de Villiers, each on one.

The Proteas lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first match and the second was drawn.

South Africa's innings was off to a rocky start when Boeta Dippenaar was bowled by Chris Martin for a duck as he tried to leave the first delivery he faced.

But Smith and Hashim Amla put on 98 runs for the second wicket, with Smith racing to 63 off 63 balls - hitting 10 fours - before James Franklin induced an edge to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

Jacques Kallis and Amla batted comfortably for a further 11 overs before Kallis chopped a Martin delivery onto his stumps to be dismissed for nine.

Scott Styris struck for New Zealand in the next over when the ball climbed off a length and Amla got a glove to it for Michael Papps to take an easy catch. Amla made 53.

Makhaya Ntini took 5-35 in New Zealand's innings, his 14th five-wicket haul in tests.
Ntini and Dale Steyn tore through New Zealand's top order to have the tourists 50-3 at lunch.

Steyn struck with his second ball when Jamie How edged a simple catch to De Villiers at third slip before the Black Caps had scored.

In a hostile over, Ntini then bowled How's fellow opener, Michael Papps, for a duck with New Zealand's score still on naught.

Styris got an edge to a delivery from Ntini and De Villiers took a fine diving catch in front of Kallis at second slip to put the tourists in deep trouble at 3-2.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle attempted to resurrect the innings, but Astle fell to Steyn for 20 soon after lunch, caught by Kallis at second slip.

Fleming continued his effort with the assistance of Jacob Oram and attacked the bowling, but was given out caught behind for 46 off Ntini when it appeared the ball had flicked his pad.

McCullum was no match for Ntini's pace and athleticism as he had a leading edge caught for a duck by the bowler diving full length across the pitch.

Daniel Vettori fell lbw to Steyn for two, and Franklin stuck around for 36 runs with Oram before Andrew Hall had Franklin caught behind for 19.

Oram resisted a while longer until Shaun Pollock trapped him lbw for 18, and Ntini returned to wrap up the innings by having Chris Martin caught by Smith at first slip for 1.