JOIN USHeavy rain ended any chance of a result in the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand but Ross Taylor's team may have come away with a hint more confidence than when they first set foot on University Oval.
The hosts were soundly beaten in the one-day series and few people expected them to fare much better in the Tests, despite having won three of their previous four matches, though two of those were against Zimbabwe.
However, the bowling of Chris Martin and Doug Bracewell in the first innings, coupled with the manner in which Taylor and Brendon McCullum curbed their attacking instincts with the bat to resurrect their second, showed the hosts could be competitive in the three-match series.
SOUTH AFRICA (I Innings): 238
NEW ZEALAND (I Innings): 273
SOUTH AFRICA (II Innings): 435/5 decl
NEW ZEALAND (II Innings, O/n: 137/2):
Nicol c Smith b Tahir 19
Guptill c De Villiers b Philander 6
McCullum (not out)................................58
Taylor (not out) 48
Extras (LB-2, W-2, NB-2) 6
Total (for 2 wkts, 41 overs) 137
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-55.
Bowling: Steyn 8-2-25-0, Philander 12-2-29-1, Morkel 9-2-33-0, Tahir 8-2-33-1, Kallis 4-1-15-0.