South Africa's batsmen made a mockery of supposedly helpful bowling conditions to finish the weather-affected first day of the third and final test against New Zealand on 136 for two. Alviro Petersen was on 44 and JP Duminy on a quickly compiled 23 when umpires offered them the option of leaving the field at 1725 local time in the murky gloom, with 21 overs remaining in the day's play at the Basin Reserve. Play was officially stopped at 1800. Hashim Amla was the only wicket to fall after tea when his mistimed pull shot from a Mark Gillespie bouncer fell for wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk. Amla, who did not add to his tea score of 63, was forced to wait for several minutes as umpires reviewed Gillespie's foot placement, with television replays suggesting his back foot was touching the line on the return crease, which would have meant a no-ball and Amla being recalled. Third umpire Billy Doctrove upheld the decision, however, the second time he was forced to make a controversial ruling in South Africa's innings. Prior to tea, he affirmed a decision to give South Africa captain Graeme Smith out for five when he was adjudged to have got an inside edge to a Doug Bracewell delivery and was caught by van Wyk. Smith initially stood his ground, walked down the pitch to talk with Petersen then asked for the decision to be reviewed. Television replays showed clear daylight between his bat and the ball as it passed by, though microphones indicated some sort of sound and Doctrove upheld the decision. Smith was shaking his head as he walked off the field. South Africa only need to draw the game to seal the three-match series after they won the second test at Seddon Park in Hamilton by nine wickets.
