The Proteas wicketkeeper, Kyle Verreynne, scored a maiden Test century to help South Africa to 354/9 in their second innings and thus set the Black Caps a target of 426-runs to win the 2nd Test.

Verreynne scored an unbeaten 136 runs in a steady knockout as he hit 16 fours and a six.

The seamer, Kagiso Rabada, supported him we with an innings of 47 runs off of 34 balls, but was caught out just three runs shy of what would have been his maiden Test half-century.

The Black Caps chase got off to a rocky start when Rabada had Will Young caught for a duck with the third ball of the innings. With the first ball of the third over, Rabada sent the captain, Tom Latham, packing for just one run.

Matters got worse for the hosts when Henry Nichols when was bowled out by Keshav Maharaj with the score on 25/3.

Just before the close of play, Maharaj picked up his second wicket when he bowled Daryl Mitchell out for 24 runs.

The Proteas need six wickets on day five to level the season, but the South African-born Devon Conway, is standing in their way, while the centurion from the Black Caps first innings, the Zimbabwean-born Colin de Grandhomme, is yet to bat.

While the Proteas are in control, the Kiwis will have their sights set on an historic first-ever Test series win against South Africa.

Day five at the Hagley Oval will get underway at midnight with Conway on 60* and the wicketkeeper, Tom Blundell, on 1* being the men at the crease.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport