New Zealand need to break their record highest fourth-innings winning total if they are to snatch victory from South Africa in the first Test on Sunday.
South Africa declared their second innings on Saturday at 435-5 giving New Zealand a 401-run target — a winning fourth-innings total beaten only four times previously in cricket history.
At stumps, with one day remaining, New Zealand were 137-2 — requiring a further 264 runs — with Brendon McCullum on 58 and Ross Taylor on 48.
The Black Caps’ current record fourth innings winning total is 324-5 against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994.
The West Indies hold the record for the highest winning run chase when centuries by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan laid the foundation for their fourth innings 418-7 to beat Australia at St John’s in 2003.
South Africa scored 414-4 to beat Australia at Perth in 2008, India scored 406-4 to defeat the West Indies at Port of Spain in 1976, and Australia were the first Test side to surpass 400 in a successful fourth-innings run chase when they made 404-3 against England at Leeds in 1948.
The highest unsuccessful fourth innings total is 654-5 by England when chasing a target of 696 to beat South Africa at Durban in 1939.
There should be 98 overs available on Sunday for New Zealand to score the runs or South Africa to take the last eight wickets, although morning rain is forecast in Dunedin.
