NZ openers unbeaten after day two

A patient, unbeaten 67-run partnership from openers Tom Latham and Jeet Raval has put the Black Caps on the front foot at the end of day two in their Test decider against South Africa.

Bowling the Proteas out for 314 in Sunday's late session, the Kiwi opening duo then serenely knocked 67 runs without loss at Seddon Park, their highest ever stand.

The 24-year-old Latham, who has struggled for form for much of the Kiwi summer, hit eight fours on his way to 42, while Raval produced a slow-burning 25 before stumps.

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The productive opening stand stands in stark contrast to the Black Caps' efforts in the first two Tests, where they scored no more than 16 runs in three innings.

"The game is evenly poised and we're in a good position," New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen says.

"The two openers have set us up for a good start.

"Credit to Tom, he's worked really hard leading into this Test, had quite a few sessions working on a few things (and) he's got a lot of confidence."

Both sides could have achieved much more in Hamilton were it not for an extended afternoon rain delay, which limited the second session to just 20 minutes.

An impromptu tea break was held before the sides re-emerged at 4pm, and played through to 6.30pm when poor light ended play.

Earlier, Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock top-scored with a quick-fire 90 off 118 balls, thumping 11 boundaries and two sixes before being undone by all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme with a plum LBW in the early-third session.

Kagiso Rabada also pitched in with a speedy 34.

"De Kock is a very good player, his record speaks for itself," Jurgensen said.

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"He's a very unique player, fast hands, just really dangerous - he puts the pressure back on the bowler, that's one of the key things he does."

But it was the early morning removal of South African talisman Faf du Plessis for 53 that will give the Black Caps most cause for celebration.

The 33-year-old captain attempted to sweep a Mitch Santner spin delivery, only to be snared by a remarkable one-handed Latham catch at short leg.

Television replays showed the back-up Black Caps wicketkeeper had barely three-tenths of a second to react and catch du Plessis' firmly-struck shot.

The Kiwis generally impressed with the ball despite the absence of seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee, with Matt Henry equalling his career-best figures of 93-4.

Probing left-armer Neil Wagner also bowled 104-3, while the swing-bowling de Grandhomme picked up 62-2.

"Little bit of experience missing in our attack, and I thought it was a fantastic effort," Jurgensen said.

"Matt Henry's presented himself beautifully, attacked the crease, always asked questions."

Play will resume at 10.30am on Monday for day three, which is also forecast to endure periods of extended Hamilton rainfall.

New Zealand XI: Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson (c), Neil Broom, Henry Nicholls, Mitch Santner, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Jeetan Patel, Neil Wagner.

South Africa XI: Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada.