Williamson holds New Zealand innings together

CRICKET: HAMILTON, New Zealand, March 17 (AFP) - A stubborn Kane Williamson was valiantly keeping New Zealand in the second Test against South Africa as they reached 142-6 at lunch on the third day in Hamilton on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Williamson was not out 77, with Doug Bracewell yet to score, as the hosts held a slender 74-run lead with only four bottom-order wickets in hand at Seddon Park.

The Kiwis resumed the day three runs in arrears and put on 77 for the loss of two wickets in the morning session as South Africa tightened their grip on the match, after rain ended any chance of a result in the first Test.

Daniel Vettori was the first wicket to fall after adding 35 for the fifth wicket with Williamson, as he gloved a rising delivery from Jacques Kallis which was snapped up by Mark Boucher.

South African-born Kruger van Wyk then shared in a 42-run stand with Williamson before he was out-thought by Vernon Philander who sent down a series of deliveries that moved away and then bowled van Wyk with one that came back.

Williamson, meanwhile, stood firm at the other end as he moved within 23 runs of his second Test century after posting his fourth half-century in his 11th Test.

Philander has been the sharpest of the South African bowlers with 3-30 to go with his four-wicket haul in the first innings, while Dale Steyn has 2-31.

			SCOREBOARD

		NEW ZEALAND - 1ST INNINGS
(185 - B. McCullum 61, R. Taylor 44; Philander 4-70, Steyn 3-49)

        	SOUTH AFRICA - 1ST INNINGS
(253 - AB de Villiers 83m M. Morkel 35 n.o.; Gillespie 5-59, Martin 2-38)

NEW ZEALAND - 2ND INNINGS
R. Nicol  b Philander  				01
M. Guptill c Amla b Steyn 			01
B. McCullum  lbw b Philander			05
R. Taylor lbw b Steyn 				17
K. Williamson not out  				77
D. Vettori c Boucher b Kallis          		21
K. van Wyk b Philander  			20
D. Bracewell not out 				00
Extras                                		00
Total (6 wkts; 63 overs)           	       142

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Nicol), 2-7 (McCullum), 3-7 (Guptill)
		 4-64 (Taylor), 5-99 (Vettori), 6-141 (van Wyk)  
Bowling: Steyn 16-5-31-2
	 Philander 13-2-30-3
	 Morkel 11-4-18-0
	 Tahir 17-2-52-0
	 Kallis 6-3-11-1
Series: The three-match series is level after a draw in the first Test.
Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK) 
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)