Jacques Kallis fell eight runs short of a history-making century as South Africa reached 279 for four Wednesday on the first day of the first cricket test against New Zealand.
Kallis continued a prolific run of recent individual scoring, making 92 before falling to a catch off the second new ball shortly before stumps.
His innings was the mainstay of South Africa's total and left it in a controlling position after a day on which both teams toiled on a pitch which lacked pace or bounce.
Kallis was bidding for a rare place in cricket history as he passed his 28th half century in 76 tests and closed on his 16th hundred.
The century would have been his fifth in consecutive tests after his dominating form against the West Indies earlier this year.
Only Sir Donald Bradman, who scored centuries in six straight tests for Australia, has passed 100 in more consecutive matches. Bradman's run was interrupted by injury.
Kallis accumulated 712 runs at an average of 178 in South Africa's four-test home series against the West Indies in December and January.
With Wednesday's innings, compiled over 239 minutes with 11 fours and three sixes, Kallis took his aggregate in his last five tests to 804 at an average of 160.
He shared partnerships of 132 in 148 minutes for the third wicket with Jacques Rudolph, who made 72, and 60 in 86 minutes with Gary Kirsten, who was 31 not out in his 99th test at stumps.
Kirsten was batting with nightwatchman Paul Adams, who was not out on seven.
Kallis was most prolific in the second session, when the ball was older and when he and Rudolph put on 106 runs in 120 minutes.
But he became frustrated against the second new ball as Daryl Tuffey and Jacob Oram pinned him down. His frustration led to his first rash shot, an ungainly hook, which saw a ball from Oram carry to Tuffey at fine leg.
After two productive sessions in which South Africa scored 101 runs for the loss of two wickets and 106 without loss, the final session produced only 72 runs at the cost of Rudolph and Kallis.
After South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and batted, the day was always going to be a long one for the home team.
The Hamilton pitch was bare and soft on top and, from the first over, gave little help or encouragement to the seam bowlers.
Spinner Daniel Vettori came into the attack in only the 13th over and gave his captain heart when he claimed the wickets of Smith, for 25, and Herschelle Gibbs for 40.
Australia versus Sri Lanka
Australia's star legspinner Shane Warne recorded his 24th five-wicket haul Wednesday in the first cricket test against Sri Lanka, marking a memorable return to test cricket after a 12-month drug ban.
Warne and fellow legspinner Stuart MacGill polished the Sri Lankan tail on the morning session of the third day, picking up four wickets for 29 runs as the hosts were dismissed for 381.
Australia were 15 without loss in their second innings with Justin Langer (8) and Matt Hayden (7) at the crease.
Sri Lanka resumed play at Galle International Stadium with an overnight score of 352-6.
Overnight batsman Upul Chandana was the first to depart in the 16th over of the day, edging a sharp-turning Warne delivery to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist for 27 runs.
MacGill claimed his first wicket in the match, forcing an edge off left-hander Chaminda Vaas to Hayden at slip. Kumar Dhamasena departed in similar fashion to Warne while last man Muttiah Muralitharan gave a return catch to Warne without scoring.
A stylish century from Tillakaratne Dilshan helped Sri Lanka take a comfortable 132-run first innings lead at the end of the second day Tuesday in reply to Australia's 220 all out.
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