New Zealand's triple strike leave South Africa reeling

CENTURION, South Africa, Apr 17 (Reuters) New Zealand took control of the first test against South Africa after they reduced the home side to 63 for three wickets in their second innings at lunch on the third day today.

At the interval, Jacques Kallis was on 17 not out along with Ahswell Prince on 11, the pair taking South Africa 12 runs ahead of the tourists with seven wickets remaining.

South Africa were dismissed for 276 in their first innings and New Zealand replied with 327, inspired by a sparkling Jacob Oram century.

New Zealand took advantage of some inconsistent bounce on the Centurion strip and bowled well to leave the home side struggling to post a competitive target in the first match of the three-test series.

South Africa ran into trouble early and in the third over of the day, medium pacer Chris Martin trapped Graeme Smith in front for seven.

Three overs later, the Proteas were 19-2 after Herschelle Gibbs (2) failed to move his feet to a delivery from left-arm paceman James Franklin and edged a catch to Scott Styris at second slip.

Boeta Dippenaar could only add 16 to the total before he steered a delivery from medium pacer Oram to Stephen Fleming at first slip to make it 42-3.

The home side's hopes now rest with premier batsman Kallis, who did well to survive several deliveries that passed the stumps at ankle height and one from Martin that bounced sharply, found the shoulder of the bat but fell safely beyond gully.

REUTERS PM RAI1606