New Zealand build big lead over South Africa

AUCKLAND, March 20 - At the tea interval, home side New Zealand moved to 397 for the loss of six wickets, a first innings lead of 101, with Cairns not out on 53 and Jacob Oram not out on 25 playing comfortably.

All-rounder Chris Cairns blasted a quick half-century to put the home side firmly in control after South Africa had taken two wickets on the third afternoon of the second test on Saturday.

New Zealand had started the afternoon session on 285 for four and continued scoring freely through Craig McMillan and Brendon McCullum.

McMillan passed the 3,000 test run milestone just after New Zealand had taken a first innings lead at 296, but was soon out, playing on to Shaun Pollock for 82.

That brought Cairns to the wicket and he proceeded to hit the bowlers to all parts of the ground with a cultured display of power batting.

He scored his 21st test half-century off just 41 balls, hitting 10 fours.

He had lost Brendon McCullum for 13, bowled by Makhaya Ntini, when the score was 349 and Jacob Oram, a century-maker in the first test, came in and played some glorious strokes straight down the ground.

Earlier, Scott Styris was eventually dismissed for 170 when he was caught by Pollock at slip off spinner Nicky Boje, for the only wicket of the morning session after the hosts had resumed on 201 for three wickets.