Amla leads fight as New Zealand look skywards

South Africa 155 for 2 (Amla 50*, Kallis 25*) trail New Zealand 593 for 8 dec (Fleming 262, Franklin 122*, Ntini 4-162) by 438 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Jeetan Patel shows his joy after removing Boeta Dippenaar © AFP

On a day of firsts at Cape Town, New Zealand maintained their supremacy but were left looking towards the heavens as the weather threatened to ruin their chances of squaring the series. After James Franklin had reached his maiden Test century, Jeetan Patel opened his Test-wicket tally with two scalps. However, Hashim Amla marked his return to the Test arena with a hardworking first fifty as he guided South Africa's pursuit of the follow-on target of 394.

Faced with a huge total - and a follow-on target of 394 - Graeme Smith and Boeta Dippenaar had made steady progress against the new ball after New Zealand extended their innings for 13 overs. Patel and Daniel Vettori were in action by the 13th over of South Africa's reply, and both found appreciable assistance, with Vettori ripping deliveries past the edges of all the right-handers.

Patel, though, was something of a surprise package. He has produced some promising performances in one-day internationals but a career average of over 41 in first-class cricket would not send shudders through a batting line-up. However, he made an immediate mark when Stephen Fleming threw him the ball flighting a full delivery to Smith, who tried to work it to the onside, but could only spoon it back to the bowler. Smith stood his ground, believing it to be a bump ball, but the TV evidence was clear and he was on his way.

Patel wasn't afraid to flight the ball and bowled an attacking line outside off stump, drifting the ball away from the bat. His second wicket, when Dippenaar dragged on an attempted cut, was reward for a impressive spell of patience and pressure building. This certainly isn't a surface where New Zealand are going to rush through the South African line-up and Fleming realised this. He wasn't afraid to rotate his attack and try some innovative field settings, such as removing the slips for Scott Styris and blocking up the run-scoring areas.

James Franklin opened his shoulders after reaching a maiden Test century © AFP

Amla stood firm on his return to the Test team and his extensive work with Gary Kirsten is paying dividends. On his last outing he was worked out by the England pace attack during the 2004-05 series and was returned to domestic cricket to hone his technique. A season's average of over 50 has been rewarded, and although his flat-footed wafts at Franklin show there is still work to do, he has clearly made progress. In the brief period of play after tea, before the light closed in, he took two fours off Patel to reach his half-century, a battling effort off 132 balls.

South Africa have long since conceded this Test is now purely an exercise in survival and Amla's stand with Jacques Kallis showed this. Both were happy to concentrate primarily on defence although Kallis did produce some uncharacteristic wafts against the spinners.

With the dodgy weather knocking around, Fleming may yet regret batting so long in the morning. Franklin struggled to pierce the field as he tried to tick off the seven more runs needed to reach three figures. However, he finally connected with a searing straight drive to bring up the milestone, the third of his first-class career.

Once the weight of the approaching hundred had been removed, Franklin opened his shoulders and launched a mini-blitz on the weary South African attack. He crunched a couple of scorching drives through the offside and then picked Makhaya Ntini up over midwicket for a handsome six.

Patel chipped in with some meaty thumps through the infield, but his main role was to perform with the ball. He did that with distinction and he is going to have plenty of work over the next two days - weather permitting. This match has turned into a race against time for New Zealand, while South Africa just need to bat. Amla has begun the process and Kallis, entrenched at the crease, is the perfect man to carry it forward.

Graeme Smith c and b Patel 25 (36 for 1)
Chipped back off toe of bat

Boeta Dippenaar b Patel 47 (108 for 2)
Bottom edge attempted cut