New Zealand have ground their way to a modest 74-run lead over South Africa at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test in Hamilton.

The home side lost two wickets during the morning session to go to the interval at 6-142.

Kane Williamson, who started the day on 41, was unbeaten on 77, his second-highest score in Tests, and Doug Bracewell was yet to score.

Jacques Kallis made the first breakthrough, claiming his 276th Test scalp after prising out the left-handed Daniel Vettori on 21.

Then one over before lunch Vernon Philander picked up his third wicket of the innings to knock back Kruger van Wyk’s off stump.

Williamson and Vettori, resuming with New Zealand on 4-65 still three runs shy of making the Proteas bat again, wasted little time in wiping off the deficit with Vettori punching the second ball of the day from Philander to the mid-wicket boundary.

The pair survived a testing opening spell from the South African pacemen and the 21-year-old Williamson brought up his fourth Test half-century.

Their partnership looked promising but after building a 35-run stand in 19 overs, Kallis struck.

After hitting Vettori between the shoulder blades in the previous over, Kallis banged in another short ball which he gloved through to Mark Boucher.

Williamson, who failed to score in the first innings, was tested with short balls, especially from Dale Steyn who dismissed him first time around in the middle of New Zealand’s collapse where they lost five wickets in the space of 20 balls.

He and Van Wyk added 42 before the diminutive New Zealand wicketkeeper shouldered arms on 20 to a ball that jagged back to hit the top of his off stump.

New Zealand began their second innings 68 runs in arrears.

Mark Gillespie claimed five wickets to dismiss South Africa for 253 on day two after the hosts were bundled out for 185 on the first day.