Cairns enjoyed a run blitz for the Black Caps on Saturday

Chris Cairns hit 158 off only 171 balls to put New Zealand firmly in control against South Africa at the close of play in Auckland on Saturday.

The Black Caps advanced to 584-8, a first-innings lead of 288 after the third day of the second Test.

Jacob Oram weighed in with a quickfire 90, putting on 225 with Cairns - a seventh-wicket record for the side.

Earlier Scott Styris hit 170 before being caught at slip off Nicky Boje, ending a fourth-wicket stand of 148.

It was a very good day for us, we're in with a good chance of going 1-0 up in the series New Zealand's Scott Styris

Styris smashed 24 fours and two sixes in five-and-a-quarter hours before his impressive partnership with Craig McMillan ended.

McMillan went on the offensive after lunch and raced to 82 but inside-edged a ball from Shaun Pollock onto his stumps.

Brendon McCullum (13) was then bowled by a low full-toss from Makhaya Ntini to leave the Black Caps on 349-6.

But Oram joined Cairns and the pair's partnership soon overtook New Zealand's previous record of 186, put on by Richard Hadlee and Warren Lees against Pakistan in Karachi in the 1976/77 series.

I just hope that Gibbs/Smith and co will destroy the Kiwi attack From Proteapower Have your say on TMS

Cairns was finally dismissed when he went for another big hit off South Africa skipper Graeme Smith and was caught by Jacques Kallis in the deep after 213 minutes at the crease with the score on 374.

Oram followed four runs later when he was bowled by Ntini.

Daniel Vettori was not out two and Daryl Tuffey unbeaten on five when play ended for the day with South Africa facing a tough task to save the game.

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

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