New Zealand lost Devon Conway with one ball left in the day's play and were 40-1 at stumps on Thursday, still 226 behind with two full days remaining.Â
Conway fell lbw to offspinner Dane Piedt on the fifth ball of the 14th over, only seconds before the scheduled close of play.Â
Fellow opener Tom Latham was 21 not out.
While Bedingham was at the crease on the way to a career-best 110 and during a 98-run partnership with Keegan Peterson (43), a Proteas team that had been written off before their tour began were in control of the match, setting a difficult chase for New Zealand.
South Africa are without most of their leading players, who stayed at home to play in a domestic Twenty20 league.Â
After losing the first of two Tests by 281 runs, they looked in danger of becoming the first Proteas team to lose a Test series against New Zealand.
Bedingham has given South Africa hope of avoiding that record.
However, the lead he worked so hard to create ended up much smaller than he hoped, as South Africa lost their last six wickets for 33 runs.
That was due to tall fast bowler Will O'Rourke, who took 5-34, the best innings figures by a New Zealander on Test debut, and Glenn Phillips, who took two wickets and two catches as the Proteas' innings unravelled.Â
History at Seddon Park! Will O'Rourke overtaking Mark Craig (8-188), to have the new best match figures on Test debut for the team. Scorecard | — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) https://t.co/6GWv3Xw6Y7 #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/aHbasTwGKZFebruary 15, 2024
O'Rourke's 9-93 for the match was also the best by a New Zealander on Test debut.
"It's a real special day," the paceman said.Â
"I was running in well, the ball felt like it was coming out well, and there was a bit of bounce and carry.
"I'm ashamed to admit it, but there were a few nerves," he added, recounting his thoughts when he had four wickets and there was only one wicket left in the South Africa innings.Â
"I threw a couple down legside being a bit greedy, but it was all good."
The highest successful fourth-innings run chase at any ground in New Zealand is 345 by the West Indies at Eden Park, Auckland, in 1969.
The 227 New Zealand still need to win will be demanding on a pitch at Seddon Park that will take turn over the last two days, as Piedt showed just before stumps.Â
Piedt took a career-best 5-89 as South Africa bowled out New Zealand for 211 in their first innings in reply to the Proteas' 242.
In an action-packed start to the final session on Thursday, Petersen fell just two runs short of a century partnership with Bedingham.Â
An incredible catch by Glenn Phillips as he takes the wicket of Petersen 🔥�— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) @BLACKCAPS v South Africa: 2nd Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/zTOYDW3Bq7February 15, 2024
He was brilliantly caught by Phillips at gully from the bowling of Matt Henry.
Ruan de Swardt (one) top-scored for South Africa with 64 in the first innings but was bowled around his legs by Phillips as he tried to sweep.
Bedingham reached his century from 127 balls and then was out, chopping a ball from O'Rourke directly to Phillips in the gully.Â
O'Rourke was the only New Zealand bowler who troubled the South Africa batters with bounce on Thursday.
Neil Wagner pursued his usual leg theory but took only 1-42 from eight overs, and Tim Southee once again went wicketless, having taken only one wicket in the series.
Piedt was caught by Southee at short mid-on from Phillips' bowling, and O'Rourke wrapped up the innings, dismissing Shaun von Berg (two) and Dane Paterson (seven).
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