South Africa's progress in the second Test endured a bumpy ride as New Zealand's pace quartet picked up six wickets between them and left South Africa stuttering at 105/6 at the close of play on Day 3 of the second Test at Centurion on Monday. However, South Africa still enjoy the advantage, courtesy a mammoth lead of 372 runs, after bowling New Zealand out for just 214 in their first innings.

After limping to 37/3 at the end of Day 2, the onus was on Kiwi captain Kane Williamson to anchor his team's innings. Henry Nicholls gave his skipper good support, watchfully negotiating the pacers but the South African pacers had too much firepower and rhythm to be contained.

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Kagiso Rabada broke the Williamson-Nicholls stand, which had accounted for 60 while Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander made easy work of BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner. Wagner, after picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, showed more tenacity than the other Kiwi top order batsmen, breezing away to a 30-ball 31 before Steyn induced an edge. Williamson was the last batsman to be dismissed.

But New Zealand mounted a comeback through Tim Southee and Trent Boult who shook off their listlessness from the first innings to bounce back sharply, taking two wickets each to reduce the Proteas to 47/4.

Quinton de Kock brought up his second half century of the match, regularly finding the boundary ropes before falling to Doug Bracewell for a 43-ball half-century. Temba Bavuma battled hard to remain unbeaten on 25 at the close of play. As many as 13 wickets fell in the day and though New Zealand have managed to get themselves back into the match, they still have a huge mountain to climb.

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Brief Scores:

South Africa 481/8 decl. (Faf du Plessis 112, JP Duminy 88, Quinton de Kock 82; Neil Wagner 5/86) & 105/6 (Quinton de Kock 50, Temba Bavuma 25 not out, Tim Southee 2/27, Trent Boult 2/38 lead New Zealand 214 (Kane Willimson 77, Henry Nicholls 36; Kagiso Rabada 3/62, Dale Steyn 3/66) by 372 runs.