McCullum and Martin spare New Zealanders' blushes

Rest of South Africa 395 and 132 for 4 (Ontong 59*) lead New Zealanders 372 (Fleming 118, McCullum 101, Fulton 73, Zondeki 4-107) by 155 runs
Scorecard

Hundreds from Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum ensured the New Zealanders' tour match at Benoni will go into the final day evenly poised. At the close, Rest of South Africa were 132 for 4, a lead of 155.

Fleming, 96 not out overnight, completed his hundred in the first over, and made brisk progress along with Peter Fulton, who soon completed his fifty. Although Fulton fell for 73, it was Fleming's dismissal for 118 which triggered a collapse in which the tourists lost five wickets for 44 runs, Monde Zondeki taking three of those in as many overs.

With Shane Bond sidelined with a knee injury, New Zealanders were in deep trouble before McCullum finally found support in Chris Martin, one of the game's real rabbits, the pair adding 95 for the ninth wicket to steer them to within 23 runs of Rest of South Africa's total.

When Rest of South Africa batted again, James Franklin struck an early blow, removing Alviro Petersen for 5, but Justin Ontong patiently guided them to a strong position before two late wickets gave the visitors renewed hope. Davey Jacobs' 22 ended when he hit a return catch to Daniel Vettori, and two balls later Jean-Paul Duminy edged Martin to McCullum.