NZ battle back, Kallis joins Sobers club

Kallis joined Sobers in one of cricket's most exclusive clubs during the third Test, but it was the visitors who had the better of the day.

Jacques Kallis joined Garfield Sobers in one of cricket's most exclusive clubs during the third Test between South Africa and New Zealand on Saturday, but it was the visitors who had the better of the day.

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All rounder Kallis took his 200th wicket to become only the second man after West Indian great Sobers to capture 200 wickets and score 8,000 runs.

"It's a very special club, obviously, and it's an honour to join it," Kallis told reporters. It will mean more to me in years to come when I retire and sit back to think about it."

Kallis, who passed the 8,000 run mark earlier in the series, could only sit and watch early in the day on Saturday as South Africa collapsed from their overnight 133 for four to a total of 186, a lead of just 67 over New Zealand's 119.

New Zealand were 214 for six, a lead of 147, when bad light and rain ended play 19.1 overs early.

"All our plans went awry and that was very disappointing, but New Zealand bowled very well," South African coach Mickey Arthur told a news conference.

"It was a frustrating day, but they are only 147 ahead and we are very much in the game."

He added: "The wicket does a lot more in the morning than in the rest of the day. It seemed to flatten out later, even though we beat the edge a lot."

Paceman Chris Martin, who spearheaded New Zealand's attack with his return of five for 37, said: "It's evenly balanced, the first session tomorrow could be the most crucial session in the match.

"We need another 50 runs, minimum, to feel as if we have a reasonable total to bowl at and to give the South Africans quite a bit to think about."

New Zealand hopes lie with Daniel Vettori (21 not out) and Jacob Oram (19 not out) after earlier solid knocks from Nathan Astle (45) and Scott Styris (42).

Scoreboard:

New Zealand 1st innings: 119, South Africa 1st innings: G Smith c McCullum b Franklin 63, B Dippenaar b Martin 0, H Amla c Papps b Styris 56, J Kallis b Martin 9, A Prince c McCullum b Martin 4, A De Villiers c Styris b Franklin 2, M Boucher lbw Franklin 0, S Pollock not out 32, A Hall lbw Martin 5, D Steyn b Martin 2, M Ntini c McCullum b Mills 8, Extras: (nb-5) 5, Total: (all out, 44 overs) 186.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-99, 3-131, 4-131, 5-139, 6-139, 7-139, 8-145, 9-161.

Bowling: Martin 15-2-37-5, Franklin 13-2-87-3, Oram 4-0-20-0, Mills 8-0-30-1, Astle 2-0-11-0, Styris 2-1-1-1.

New Zealand 2nd innings: M Papps c Hall b Kallis 15, J How lbw Steyn 4, S Fleming c AB de Villiers b Kallis 37, S Styris c&b Steyn 42, N Astle c Boucher b Steyn 45, J Oram not out 19, B McCullum c Boucher b Pollock 5, D Vettori not out 21, Extras: (b-5 lb-16 nb-3 w-2) 26, Total: (for 6 wickets, 57.5 overs) 214.

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-40, 3-82, 4-158, 5-177, 6-190.

Bowling: Steyn 16-2-62-3, Ntini 13-2-41-0, Kallis 8-1-20-2.