Verreynne feels pride, not relief after maiden Test ton: 'I've worked my whole life for this'

Kyle Verreynne did not feel like he was batting for his place in the team while compiling a maiden Test ton in Christchurch on Monday, but he did acknowledge that his introduction to the format has been mentally testing.

The 24-year-old, playing in just his sixth Test, was superb at the Hagley Oval, carving 14 boundaries and a six in a stunning five-hour knock of 136* (187 balls) that has left the Proteas in a position where they can level the two-match series against New Zealand on Tuesday.

READ | Stunning Verreynne ton takes Proteas closer to victory

The hosts are 94/4 in their second innings, needing another 332 runs for an unlikely victory on the final day, while the Proteas need another six wickets.

If South Africa do get over the line, then Verreynne's contribution would have been immense.

It couldn't have come at a better time for the Western Cobras wicketkeeper/batter, either.

Going into this Test, Verreynne had a top score of 30 and had scored just 108 runs in his first seven innings at an average of 15.42.

With Ryan Rickelton currently with the Proteas and the likes of Sinethemba Qeshile operating on the domestic circuit, the pressure was on Verreynne to show that he was the right choice to replace the retired Quintin de Kock in South Africa's Test team.

This knock will go a long way towards easing any concerns there might have been over Verreynne's selection, but the man himself says he was never worried about his place in the team while there wasn't even a feeling of relief when he notched up his ton.

Challenging

"I didn't feel like I was batting for my place at all," he said matter-of-factly after the day's play.

"I don't think it's relief; I think it's more just pride. I don't know why you would feel relieved