South Africa are back in charge of the third Test after reducing New Zealand to 128-5 in their second innings.

Play on day three in Wellington was eventually halted by bad light with the Kiwis leading by just 109 runs.

The home side took the early honours, capturing the last seven South African wickets for 79 runs to trail by just 19 runs after the first innings.

But Shaun Pollock and Nicky Boje both claimed two wickets to leave New Zealand firmly on the back foot.

Paceman Chris Martin took 5-55 - his third consecutive five-wicket haul in the series - to help dimiss South Africa for 316 after they had resumed on 237-3.

Chris Cairns weighed in with 4-60.

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Jacques Rudolph was left unbeaten on 93, following on from his 154 not out in the second Test in Auckland.

The Kiwis got off to a bad start in their second innings, Michael Papps (0) out to Shaun Pollock in the first over.

Wickets then continued to fall at regular intervals, with skipper Stephen Fleming (9) caught by wicketkeeper Mark Boucher off the bowling of Andre Nel.

Mathew Sinclair (21) was trapped lbw by Pollock before Mark Richardson (37) and Brendon McCullum (3) were both dismissed by Boje.

Scott Styris was not out 41 when play came to an end, with Cairns on seven.

Rain is expected on the fourth day, with New Zealand only requiring draw to win the three-match series 1-0.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Mark Richardson, Michael Papps, Scott Styris, Matthew Sinclair, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Michael Mason, Chris Martin.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Martin van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel.