Associated Press

Wellington, March 29:

Gary Kirsten found the stage set for the dramatic last act of his career as the third cricket Test between South Africa and New Zealand moved towards an exhilarating finish.

Kirsten, who will retire from Test cricket after this series, was 19 not out, his captain Graeme Smith 46 not out as South Africa reached 82-3 by stumps on the fourth day. The visitor are chasing 234 for a win which will tie the three-Test series.

New Zealand must either take seven wickets or prevent South Africa from making the 152 runs it needs for victory on Tuesday to consolidate its 1-0 series lead and win a series against the Proteas for the first time.New Zealand was dismissed for 252 in its second innings after resuming at 128-5 and after trailing South Africa by 19 runs on the first innings.