* Petersen in sight of century
* South Africa make most of terrible day
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By Greg Stutchbury
WELLINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) – Alviro Petersen and JP
Duminy batted South Africa into a commanding position with an
unbroken 140-run partnership at the close of play on the
weather-affected second day of the third and final test against
New Zealand at the Basin Reserve.
Petersen was on 96 and Duminy 76 as the visitors steadily
accumulated runs after the start of play was delayed by constant
drizzle for almost four and half hours, pushing South Africa to
246 for two when bad light stopped play.
The 31-year-old Petersen had been dropped by Martin Guptill
on 68 after nicking a Doug Bracewell delivery, but was in sight
of his third test century when umpires offered the option of
leaving the ground at 1725 local (0425 GMT) with 12 overs
remaining in the day’s play.
Play had been halted on the first day at the same time due
to fading light. Umpires called a halt to play 10 minutes later.
Resuming on 136 for two, Petersen and Duminy were rarely
troubled as New Zealand’s attack battled a howling, chilly
northerly wind throughout the 37 overs they managed to bowl.
“It was an incredibly tough day in terms of the conditions,”
New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori said. “Not easy for the bowlers.
Continued…
