Cape Town, April 28:

A double century by captain Stephen Fleming and an unbeaten 93 by James Franklin took New Zealand past 500 on the second day of the second Test at Newlands on Friday.

New Zealand were 535 for eight at the close of play with Fleming making 262 as he and fellow left-hander Franklin put on a record 256 for the eighth wicket before the captain was bowled by part-time off-spinner Ashwell Prince.

The New Zealanders pressed ahead in bad light before going off when Fleming was out. Fleming made the highest score by any batsman in a Test at Newlands, while the partnership was the best for any wicket for New Zealand against South Africa. It was also the highest stand for any wicket against South Africa at Newlands.

Both benefitted from dropped catches. Fleming gave a straightforward chance to first slip off

Dale Steyn five balls after lunch when he was on 136, while Franklin was put down by Jacques Kallis, diving far to his left at second slip, off Makhaya Ntini when he 28.

Two runs later Franklin survived a concerted appeal for a catch behind off Ntini. In the next over he was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Ntini and fell to the ground before resuming after treatment.

Fleming was caught off the shot with which he raised his 250 when he hooked Ntini. It was his second six to go along with 31 fours in an innings which lasted 576 minutes.

The only wicket to fall before Fleming was that of Daniel Vettori (11).

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand — 1st Inngs (ov’night 265-6)

S Fleming b Prince 262

D Vettori c Nel b Ntini 11

J Franklin not out 93

Extras: 32 (b3, lb14, nb14, w1)

Total: 535/8

FoW: 1-50, 2-62, 3-82, 4-188, 5-237, 6-259, 7-279, 8-535

South Africa bowling: Ntini 36-3-131-4, Steyn 26-3-93-1, Nel 27-3-98-1, Kallis 15-4-45-0, Boje 29-4-89-0, Smith 16-2-56-0, Amla 1-0-4-0, Prince 2-0-2-1