South Africa’s batsmen have started flexing their muscle and are dragging the first Test against New Zealand their way.

Skipper Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, with almost 250 Tests and more than 20,000 runs between them, batted through the second session on Friday, the third day of the match in Dunedin, to put their team at 2-175 in their second innings – a lead of 140 with more than two days to play.

It was the first wicketless session of the match and the pair have so far put on 127 – the first century partnership of the match.

Kallis hit nine fours on his way to 66 and Smith nine to be unbeaten on 80 at the tea break.

Earlier in the day, the Proteas had dismissed the home side for 273, in replay to their first innings of 238.

Brendon McCullum caused an injury scare when diving for a ball in the outfield before lunch and was taken to hospital for a precautionary scan.

However, he returned after lunch and medical staff said it was nothing serious.

Tim Southee, who had 37 runs taken from 11 overs, was guilty of some wayward bowling, especially to Kallis.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor showed his frustration when Southee overpitched on leg, and Kallis picked him off for boundaries.

Daniel Vettori was economical bowling into the breeze, conceding just 19 runs off 11 overs.

In the morning session, seamer Doug Bracewell took two wickets – Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla – in one over for New Zealand’s only success in the innings.