I don't think it's the easiest of wickets - so I would have settled for that at the start Jacques Kallis More close of play reaction

Jacques Kallis hit 92 as South Africa reached 279-4 on day one of the first Test against New Zealand.

He shared a 132-run partnership with Jacques Rudolph (72) and partnered Gary Kirsten (31 not out) in a 60-run stand until falling just short of his ton.

After electing to bat in Hamilton, the tourists lost captain Graeme Smith (25) and Herschelle Gibbs (40).

Daniel Vettori removed both Smith and Gibbs, with Scott Styris and Jacob Oram accounting for Rudolph and Kallis.

Smith was dismissed with the score at 51 when he attempted to loft left-arm spinner Vettori over long-on and was caught at midwicket by Oram.

Just 28 runs later, Gibbs, attempting a back-foot drive off Vettori, was snapped up by Styris at short cover.

However Kallis, who has not been in the best of form on the tour, made amends in an innings that lasted 177 balls and included 11 fours and three sixes.

He looked set for his century until he hooked Oram to Daryl Tuffey on the boundary with a rare rash shot 20 minutes from stumps.

After four tons in consecutive Tests the recent home series against West Indies, Kallis missed his first chance to make it five - a feat only ever achieved by Australian great Donald Bradman.

Jacob Oram was delighted to bring Kallis' innings to an end

Earlier, Rudolph became wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum's first victim in Test cricket when he edged a Styris delivery.

McCullum dived wide and low to his left to clutch the ball centimetres above the ground.

Kirsten and nightwatchman Paul Adams (7) were left to build on South Africa's solid start on day two.

New Zealand went into the match with two spinners in Vettori and Paul Wiseman while South Africa picked just one, Adams.

The Kiwis also selected two debutants in opening batsman Michael Papps and McCullum.

New Zealand: M H Richardson, S P Fleming (Capt), M H W Papps S B Styris, C L Cairns, C D McMillan, B B McCullum (Wkt), J D P Oram D L Vettori, D R Tuffey, P J Wiseman.

South Africa: G C Smith (Capt), H H Gibbs, G Kirsten, J H Kallis J A Rudolph, N D McKenzie, M V Boucher (Wkt), S M Pollock, P R Adams M Ntini, A Nel.

Umpires: S J Davis and R B Tiffin.