South Africa have been set 254 to win the first one-day cricket international against New Zealand at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
The hosts, hoping to bounce back after blowing the chance to win the Twenty20 series between the sides, made 9-253 with captain Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson both striking fifties.
McCullum, who won the toss, led a charmed life early in his innings – twice being given out and having the decisions overturned by the television umpire.
New Zealand struggled to get on top of the South African attack on a pitch that offered pace and some sideways movement.
They lost batsmen at crucial times and then a clutch of wickets late on dented hopes of setting a more imposing target.
Form opener Martin Guptill fell early to the impressive Lonwabo Tsotsobe and his partner Rob Nicol mixed caution with a smattering of aggression in his pedestrian 30.
McCullum and Williamson added 79 for the third wicket to get the innings going and the skipper looked in fine touch after his two early let-offs.
He shouldered arms to his first ball from Tsotsobe to be given out lbw and was then caught behind off Robin Peterson before the reprieves.
He brought up his 21st one-day fifty cutting Morne Morkel to the point boundary but Peterson gained his revenge to take a fine catch in the deep when he was on 56.
The much-maligned Jesse Ryder, blamed by some commentators for New Zealand losing the deciding match of the Twenty20, did not last long, top edging a pull when on six.
Williamson hit four boundaries in his polished 55 before Tsotsobe struck again in the 42nd over when the hosts were looking to put the foot down.
James Franklin, who passed a fitness test before play after dislocating a finger at practice, added 32 but the New Zealand tail failed to find the rope with any regularity late on.
Pace spearhead Dale Steyn proved a handful, working up a good head of speed, hitting both Nicol and McCullum in the process, picking up a wicket late on as the New Zealand innings lost its way.
Tsotsobe finished with 2-41 while Kallis, who removed both McCullum and Ryder, ended with 2-45 as did Peterson.
