An unbroken 103-run partnership between Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza carried South Africa A through the latter part of day three as they reached stumps in a fighting position in the first four-day match against New Zealand A in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.
The pair took their side to the close on 106 for one at the JB Marks Oval where 15 wickets tumbled on a rollercoaster day, which ended with the hosts still needing 392 for victory.
Opener Hermann was unbeaten on 57 (85 balls, 9 fours), his second half century of the match, with Hamza not out alongside him on 46.
The former had also batted earlier on in the day when he scored his first half-century of the game - 50 (87 balls, 7 fours) - as the home side were dismissed for 236 having resumed day three on 137 for three. Captain Marques Ackerman was the innings top-scorer with 69 (52 balls, 12 fours).
For the away side, Matthew Fisher finished as the pick of the bowlers with six for 43.
But the home bowlers then lead a strong fightback as Schalk Engelbrecht, buoyed by an attacking 35 earlier with the bat, claimed four for 47, with Tsepo Ndwandwa following on from his seven-for in the first innings with two for 52.
The Kiwis had started out well enough by reaching 34 without loss, but Engelbrecht then altered the course of the innings and forced a rethink.
The New Zealanders were prompted to declare on 126 for seven and set a target of just under 500.
Hermann was again central after opener Lesego Senokwane could manage only three, with his century stand keeping SA A fighting.
SOUTH AFRICA A FOUR-DAY SQUAD AGAINST NEW ZEALAND A
Marques Ackerman (captain, Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Okuhle Cele (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Schalk Engelbrecht (Momentum Multiply Titans), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors), Tristan Luus (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Rivaldo Moonsamy (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tshepo Moreki (World Sports Betting Western Province), Mihlali Mpongwana (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tsepo Ndwandwa (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sinethemba Qeshile (Dafabet Warriors), Lesego Senokwane (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lutho Sipamla (DP World Lions), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), and Codi Yusuf (DP World Lions).
FOUR-DAY MATCHES
07 - 10 September at 10am
South Africa A v New Zealand A - JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
14 - 17 September at 10am
South Africa A v New Zealand A - Willowmoore Park, Benoni