Gibbs, who resumed on 101 not out tried to raise the tempo, adding two boundaries to reach 113 (412m, 286 b, 13x4, 1x6).

An extra hour will be added to the fourth and fifth days play in an attempt to make up lost time.

Scoreboard

New Zealand (1st innings): 168

South Africa (1st innings, overnight 229-1): Gary Kirsten c Astle b Vettori 65, Herschelle Gibbs batting 113, Jacques Kallis batting 58; Extras (lb7, nb4): 11. Total (for one wicket, 107.4 overs): 247

Fall of wicket: 1-127.

Bowling: Doull 19.5-7-26-0, Allott 28.4-9-76-0, Nash 17-5-38-0, Astle 5.1-1-12-0, Vettori24-6-73-1, Stead 1-0-1-0, Harris 12-6-14-0.

Donald out for two weeks

South Africa's hopes of winning the rain-plagued second cricket Test suffered a major blow when fast bowler Allan Donald was ruled out for two weeks with a muscle tear today.

Donald, who strained his stomach muscles during the drawn first Test in Auckland, was forced to leave the field during the New Zealand first innings due to a recurrence of the injury. He picked up three wickets.

The ace fast bowler will remain with the tour party and continue with his rehabilitation.

Although not ruling out Donald's further participation in the Test, coach Bob Woolmer said his fast bowler might produce a wicket-taking spell before packing up. ``We hope Allan will be ready for the rest of the one-day series,'' Woolmer said. ``It will take him two weeks to be 100 percent right. It is more a fatigue-related injury,'' Woolmer said.

Donald, South Africa's leading wicket-taker, has struggled to finish his last three Tests after breakingdown. ``It has been a concern for us and the decision taken is mainly keeping the World Cup in mind and also his future. Allan wants to take 300 wickets before he finishes,'' Woolmer said.Medium paceman Steve Elworthy will replace Donald in the third and final Test in wellington.

Also on the injury list is all-rounder Jacques Kallis, with a torn tendon on the big toe of his left foot. Kallis' workload as a medium paceman in the first innings was cut short to five overs.

With the bowling options thin and just two days left, South Africa will be straining its resources to force a 1-0 lead before the final Test.