Proteas look at 270-300 as good targets, eye Maharaj's crucial role

Proteas batter Rassie van der Dussen said a target of between 270-300 in the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch would be sufficient to get spinner Keshav Maharaj into the game.

Maharaj is the only front-line spinner in both teams and while he took 1/46 in his 16 overs, he gained turn and bounce that worried New Zealand while also providing an element of control that allowed Proteas skipper Dean Elgar to rotate seamers at the other end.

While the Hagley Oval isn't known to aid spin, Maharaj tied down centurion Colin de Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell.

SCORECARD | New Zealand v South Africa, 2nd Test

With SA making 140/5, they have a lead of 211 that's already past the highest successful fourth-innings total chased down in Christchurch, which is Australia's 201/3 in 2016.

"Anything around 270 or 280-plus will be decent and if we can emulate what we did with our tail-enders in the first innings and get close to the 300-mark, it'll be a good place for us," Van der Dussen said.

"If we bat well and apply ourselves on day four so we can get into a position where we can put their bowlers under pressure is going to be a great position for us.

"That'll give us a chance to get Keshav into the game while seamers are being rotated while hoping the pitch deteriorates."

That New Zealand bowled 12 maidens in the 53 overs, they hurled down to the visitors, while SA only bowled 13 in the 80 overs New Zealand faced.

It spoke to a level of control and discipline New Zealand exhibited through SA's innings, even though Van der Dussen came out of his shell with his 85-ball 45 that was comfortably SA's most fluent innings of the match.

Van der Dussen, who had an absorbing battle with Neil Wagner, who eventually got him out, gave New Zealand's