Kiwis to face tough final day with Proteas attaining 274-run lead in Wellington Test

Wellington, Mar 26(ANI): New Zealand will face a tense final day of the Wellington Test in trying to avoid defeat against South Africa.

South Africa resumed their innings at 75-0 and took an overall lead of 274 on the fourth day of the Test.

With captain Graeme Smith (34 not out) and first innings centurymaker Alviro Petersen (38 not out) at the crease, South Africa will likely put up a challenging target of around 350 to seal a 2-0 series victory.

The absence of New Zealand captain Ross Taylor tomorrow might work in South Africa's favour,stuff.co.nz reports.

Taylor was forced to retire hurt due to a broken forearm when hit by a bouncer from Morne Morkel when he had scored 18.

New Zealand staggered past the follow-on mark before being dismissed for 275 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 474-9 declared.

New Zealand batsmen mostly got promising starts but couldn't kick on against a fired up South African pace attack.

Opener Martin Guptill topscored for New Zealand with 59, while the recalled Daniel Flynn scored 45.

New Zealand lost regular wickets after Taylor's departure with the total at 160-3, even though they were comfortably set at 136-1 initially.

South African bowler Vernon Philander continued with his stellar performance with figures of 6-81, giving him 21 wickets for the series.

World No 1 bowler Dale Steyn was also a handful and took 2-41 off 23 torrid overs.

Mark Gillespie, fresh from career-best bowling of 6-113 yesterday, edged consecutive boundaries off Philander to edge New Zealand to the follow-on mark of 275. (ANI)