Fleming thwarts South Africa to take NZ past 300

CAPE TOWN, Apr 28 (Reuters) New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming continued to take the fight to South Africa on the second morning of the second test today, the tourists reaching lunch on 310 for seven wickets.

At the interval, Fleming was on 136 not out and had shared in an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 31 with James Franklin (9).

New Zealand were invited to bat after losing yesterday's toss and Fleming came to the crease after the first wicket fell at 50, batting with discipline to nurse the team out of trouble when they had slumped to 82-3.

So far, the New Zealand skipper has faced 239 balls and hit 18 fours.

Leading the attack for the Proteas was Makhaya Ntini, who has taken 10-wicket hauls in his last two tests, the paceman reaching the interval with figures of 4-85.

Fog and bad light delayed the start of play by 90 minutes, during which groundstaff used a hovercraft to try and remove dew from the outfield.

A blowtorch was used to dry repairs made to footholes on the pitch allowing New Zealand to resume 55 minutes before lunch on 265-6 and South Africa took the new ball as soon as it was available in the third over of the day's play.

The hosts did not have to wait long for a breakthrough.

Ntini struck with the third delivery with the new ball when Daniel Vettori, who scored 11, mistimed a drive and scooped a catch to Andre Nel at mid-on.

The accurate Ntini soon settled onto a probing line and length, but Dale Steyn, who shared the new ball, failed to put the batsmen under pressure.

REUTERS PDS PC1733