Rudolph was unbeaten on 60 and Van Jaarsveld was on 48 as their unbroken stand took South Africa within 60 runs of New Zealand's first innings total of 297.

Apart from a minor collapse just before tea, when South Africa slumped from 103 without loss to 136 for three, the tourists dominated the day, cashing in on indifferent bowling and fielding lapses.

They polished off the New Zealand innings early, taking the last four wickets for 49 runs within an hour.

Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs opened the reply with a century stand, their seventh, before Smith dragged a wide attempted yorker from Chris Cairns onto his stumps and was out for 47.

Gibbs marched on to 77 before falling to Chris Martin, the destroyer of South Africa in the second Test, and three balls later Martin had Gary Kirsten in his 101st and final Test out for one.

New Zealand were left to ponder what might have been as three catches went to ground and a caught behind appeal was turned down.

Gibbs benefitted twice, given the benefit of the doubt when television replays showed a clear thick edge went through to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, but umpire Asoka de Silva said no, and later he was dropped at deep mid-on by Stephen Fleming.

Rudolph and Van Jaarsveld also survived dropped catches in consecutive overs from Daniel Vettori.

With a strong northerly wind making it difficult for the bowlers to maintain their rhythm, they were chances New Zealand could ill-afford to miss.