HAMILTON, New Zealand, Mar 15 (AP/UNB) - Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor shared an unbroken 50-run partnership for New Zealand's third wicket Thursday before rain interrupted play between lunch and tea on the first day of the second test against South Africa.

McCullum was 39 not out with Taylor on 29 and New Zealand at 94-2 when light rain began to fall only 45 minutes into the day's second session.

No further play was possible before tea, but umpires Billy Doctrove and Richard Illingworth said the match would resume immediately after the scheduled tea break.

McCullum and Taylor lifted New Zealand from 44-2 to 62-2 at lunch and added a futher 32 runs before rain intervened.