New Zealand have rapidly extended their advantage over South Africa, as a robust effort with the bat has created an insurmountable lead.

And to top it off, they followed it up with three quick wickets to round off yet another successful day in the office.

The door was ever so slightly ajar for SA early on, but a swashbuckling innings from nightwatchman Neil Wagner set the tone for what was to come.

While Henry Nicholls calmly kept the score ticking, Wagner took on the South African quicks and regularly found the boundary. He fell for 49, but significant damage had already been dealt.

Glenton Stuurman picked up his first wicket for the Proteas when Daryl Mitchell edged behind to Kyle Verreynne. However, this was just one of a few scarce opportunities to celebrate, as Nicholls resolutely took the game away from the visitors.

Nicholls brought up his eighth Test century, and following his dismissal, Tom Blundell and Colin de Grandhomme continued to pile it on. With hardly any luck for the pacers and lackluster fielding not doing any favors, skipper Dean Elgar finally turned to Aiden Markram’s part time offspin to produce a breakthrough. It was a sad state of affairs for SA, as every attempt to save face was futile.

This was just the lull before the storm, as Matt Henry and Tom Blundell added 94 runs for the final wicket. A lead that seemed to have just crossed the 300 threshold quickly increased, as Henry’s dream game continued to blossom further.

Tom Blundell played an excellent hand, but fell 4 short of what could have been his third Test ton

From an impressive 7 wicket haul to a headstrong half-century at No 11, it couldn’t get any better for Henry at the venue he calls home. After NZ folded for 482, there was just enough time to send down a few overs.

Tim Southee struck on the second delivery of the Proteas’ second innings, angling one across Sarel Erwee and trapping him in front. The horror show continued, as Elgar edged behind for the second time, and Markram nicked off to first slip. Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma were able to see through the remainder of the overs, but it’ll be beyond a herculean task to negotiate the hostile Blackcaps pace attack, who are eyeing a swift finish tomorrow.

SA 95 + 34/3
NZ 482 (Nicholls 105, Blundell 96 – Olivier 3/100)