Opener Jeet Raval has shored up a shaky Black Caps batting effort to guide the New Zealand to 5-139 at tea on the third day of the second Test against South Africa.
Raval improved on his first innings 36 with a disciplined 72, as the hosts took a precarious 48-run lead on a grey, cool Saturday at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
A barrage of short-pitched deliveries going into lunch failed to unsettle Raval who continued a controlled display in the second session, bringing up his fourth half-century in five Tests just before drinks.
Raval's patient 153-ball innings included 10 boundaries as he combined with wicketkeeper BJ Watling (14) in an unbroken 49-run sixth-wicket stand.
Morne Morkel had struck twice early in the Black Caps' second innings, leaving the Kiwis reeling at 2-26 after seven overs.
Opener Tom Latham lasted just 15 balls for six runs before he sent a thick outside edge off Morkel flying to JP Duminy at gully.
Kane Williamson became Morkel's second victim in the big right-armer's next over.
The Black Caps skipper was on one when he sent a faint edge off a searching full delivery on off-stump through to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.
Raval and Neil Broom saw the Kiwis through to lunch at 2-55 but Broom couldn't add to his score of 20, another Morkel victim.
Henry Nicholls was next to go, unable to repeat his first innings heroics of 118, attempting a sweep but instead dragging a thick inside edge from Keshav Maharaj onto his stumps.
Maharaj struck again in his next over, tempting Jimmy Neesham into an ill-disciplined swipe across the line that was plucked out of mid-air by Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis at midwicket.
Earlier on day three, South Africa added 10 runs to their overnight total before being all out for 359, to take a 91-run lead over the Black Caps' first innings tally of 268.
Morkel equalled his highest score in 72 Tests in reaching 40 before he was bowled by Jeetan Patel, with Philander left unbeaten on 37.
