* New Zealand battle through to stumps
* Gillespie takes 6-113
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By Greg Stutchbury
WELLINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) – Martin Guptill and Daniel
Flynn battled hostile pace bowling to guide New Zealand to 65
for no loss at the close of play on the third day of the final
test against South Africa at the Basin Reserve on Sunday.
The pair’s opening stand was the highest of the series
against South Africa and only the second time New Zealand’s
openers have passed 50 in the southern hemisphere summer.
Guptill and Brendon McCullum posted 124 against Zimbabwe in
Napier in January.
Guptill was on 28, while Flynn, who was struck at least
twice on the body as he tried to duck, weave and bob his way
past the short-pitched bowling, was on 35 after the first full
day’s play in the weather-hit third test.
The first two days of the match had been badly affected by
rain with more than seven hours play lost, while both days also
ended early due to bad light.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith had declared the visitors’
first innings closed at 474 for nine shortly after tea, with
Mark Gillespie taking six for 113.
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