Kallis missed out on Bradman's Test century record

Jacques Kallis' hopes of emulating Don Bradman came to an end when he was dismissed for 71 on the fourth day of the second Test against New Zealand.

Kallis was on course for a record six centuries in consecutive Tests as South Africa worked to erode New Zealand's 299-run first-innings lead.

Rudolph was 121 not out and South Africa was 277-6 at stumps, still 22 runs in deficit.

Chris Martin was again the scourge of their batsmen, taking three wickets.

Kallis and Rudolph had guided South Africa to 249-2 and within 50 runs of parity by the middle of the final session on a day which had largely belonged to South Africa.

Rudolph's third Test century, and half-centuries to Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs, had offered the visitors a glimmer of hope.

But the Black Caps' bowling hero Martin, who took six wickets in the first innings and dismissed South African Graeme Smith with the first ball of the second, snatched three late wickets to spark a middle-order collapse.

After Craig McMillan had removed Kallis lbw, Martin contributed the wickets of Gary Kirsten, Neil McKenzie and Mark Boucher in quick succession to pitch the tourists from 249-2 to 272-6 just before the close of play.

New Zealand: M H Richardson, M H W Papps, S P Fleming (Capt) S B Styris, C D McMillan, C L Cairns, J D P Oram, B B McCullum (Wkt) D L Vettori, C S Martin, D R Tuffey.

South Africa: G C Smith (Capt), H H Gibbs, J A Rudolph, J H Kallis G Kirsten, N D McKenzie, M V Boucher (Wkt), S M Pollock, N Boje D J Terbrugge, M Ntini.