De Grandhomme ton keeps New Zealand in the game despite Proteas' lead

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Despite de Grandhomme's heroics, New Zealand conceded a 71-run lead after being bowled out for 293. However, the bowlers kept the Black Caps' hopes alive by restricting South Africa 140/5 at stumps on day three. The Proteas currently lead by 211 runs.

Continuing from an overnight score of 157/5 and still training South Africa by 207 runs, the pair of Daryl Mitchell and de Grandhomme continued to frustrate the South African bowlers on day three.

De Grandhomme started the day positively with a boundary of the first ball of the day and Mitchell followed suit with a boundary of his own in the next over to set the ball rolling for the visitors. Mitchell soon brought up his third Test fifty of his career, clipping a full delivery off his toes to pierce the gap between mid-on and mid-wicket.

De Grandhomme, at the other end, continued to play aggressively, welcoming the first change bowler of the day, Wiaan Mulder, with two consecutive boundaries. He survived a couple of thick edges that beat the fielders to the boundary.

The Proteas finally struck through Keshav Maharaj, who trapped Mitchell in front of the stumps for 60, thus ending a brilliant 133-run stand between the two batters. De Grandhomme was more cautious in his approach in his 90s and got to his second Test century.

The visitors got another wicket on the stroke of lunch as Kyle Jamieson fell to the leg-gully trap, with Marco Jansen targeting the ribs of the batter.

The short-ball trap worked once again after the break, with Jansen once again executing it to perfection – this time against Tim Southee who mistimed the pull to mid-wicket. Neil Wagner came out swinging and played an entertaining 18-ball 21 cameo before Rabada wrapped up the innings with consecutive wickets to complete his five-for.

New Zealand needed early wickets to get back into the game and Southee answered the call. Sarel Erwee, the centurion from the first innings, couldn't replicate his heroics as the Kiwi veteran trapped the opener leg before wicket with a brilliant in-swinger.

Southee then got the prized scalp of Dean Elgar, creating an angle from around the wicket to force the batter to play. It caught the outside edge of Elgar's bat and Tom Blundell completed a stunning diving catch in front of the first slip.

With Aiden Markram looking comfortable at the crease, Matt Henry surprised him with a yorker to celebrate his 50th Test wicket. The Proteas limped to tea at 42/3, with a lead of 113.

Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma came out positively after the break, finding the boundaries with regularity to ease the pressure off themselves. Wagner and van der Dussen were involved in a riveting duel, with both matching each other blow for blow.

Van der Dussen survived a couple of close chances – he was given out caught behind but he immediately reviewed it successfully. De Grandhomme, New Zealand's hero with the bat, dropped a simple chance off Wagner's bowling, giving van der Dussen another life.

Eventually, it was Wagner who had the last laugh as he completed a good return catch diving forward to bring an end to van der Dussen's innings, thus also ending the 65-run resistance between the fourth-wicket pair.

Bavuma too followed van der Dussen back to the pavilion soon after, failing to control a drive from wide outside off stump. Southee at covers completed a simple catch as Wagner brought New Zealand back into the game.

Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder's unbeaten 36-run stand ensured that South Africa batted through to stumps without suffering anymore damage.