It looked like a different New Zealand side, which turned up on day two and extended the first-test against South Africa into a third-day at Newlands, in Cape Town on Thursday.

"The improvement in our performance compared with yesterday was immense," said New Zealand bowler Chris Martin.

"The way we turned up with the ball today was a lot better and more consistent. We managed to dry up the runs and that eventually brought us five wickets. It set the tone for our batters who went out there and put up a much sterner fight for the team today."

He said the team were known for their slow starts and had turned up a day late for the game.

At stumps, the Black Caps were 169 for four, with Dean Brownlie on 69 and Bradley-john Wtling on 10, still facing a deficit of 133 after their atrocious first innings total of 45 all out.

Runs flowed freely after tea and, although they were living dangerously at times, New Zealand added 136 runs for the loss of two wickets in the final session.

Showing more character and facing some hostile bowling, Brendon McCullum fought hard for his half-century, which came off 96-balls, compiling an 89-run third-wicket stand off 81-balls with Dean Brownlie. McCullum was eventually out trapped in front by Robin Peterson, for 51.

Brownlie was dropped twice within two overs, and rode his luck to play some magnificent shots. Daniel Flynn joined Brownlie and the pair added 37 before AB de Villiers held on to an inside edge off Kallis to see off Flynn for 14.

Earlier, when Martin Guptill fell to Steyn in the first over of the innings, clipping the ball to Hashim Amla at mid-wicket, it looked to be all over and top-scorer from the first innings, Kane Williamson was caught at second-slip by Petersen off the bowling of Kallis – introduced into the attack for the first time in the match.

In sharp contrast to the first day's play, Philander and Morne Morkel remained wicketless despite plugging away with some fine bowling, particularly with the newer ball.

South Africa declared just after lunch on 347 for eight, with a lead of 302 runs.

"At lunch, we had made the decision that we didn't want Steyn and Morkel to bat and we stuck to that call," Petersen said.

"It was a difficult wicket to bat on, especially yesterday. From a batting point of view, you had to be disciplined on that sort of wicket and capitalise and score runs off the bad balls."

On 103 overnight, Petersen faced four deliveries before Trent Boult struck with his first ball.

It nipped back a fraction and Petersen got an inside edge onto his stumps. His innings of 106 came off 176 balls and included 11 fours and a six.

He said the key to South Africa's innings were the two century partnerships he shared with Amla and Kallis, which set the foundation for their declaration.

Martin returned the best figures for New Zealand, bagging three for 63 while Boult took 3/78. Doug Bracewell and James Franklin shared the remaining wickets.