WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Mar 25 (AP/UNB) - Alviro Petersen was dismissed after a marathon innings of 156, sparking a flurry of wickets as South Africa slipped to 437-7 at tea Sunday on the third day of the third cricket test against New Zealand.

Petersen's highest test score and his 200-run third-wicket partnership with J.P. Duminy (103) lifted South Africa to 362-3 in its first innings at lunch on the third day of a match heavily affected by bad weather.

But his dismissal four balls after the interval, without adding to his total, caused South Africa to falter and it quickly lost four wickets for 42 runs.

The Proteas slipped to 404-7 before Mark Boucher (30 not out) and Vernon Philander (18 not out) held out until tea.