Jacques Kallis described it as "ugly cricket". The rest of us mere mortals could only gawk in appreciation as he combined with his captain, Graeme Smith, to put on 200 runs for the third wicket before a crowd of 2200 at the University Oval.
Both racked up centuries to help put the Proteas in a commanding position against New Zealand at stumps on day three in Dunedin yesterday.
Having dismissed New Zealand for 273, South Africa reached 268 for three and has seized the initiative with a lead of 233.
There was a sense of inevitability about the way Smith and Kallis went about their work. The batting was methodical and patient yet somehow still urgent, and the partnership familiar and comfortable.
This was the South Africa everyone was expecting to see on the opening day. The loose shots which accounted for so many first-innings wickets had been shelved. Wickets would have to be earned and grit won the day.
"It was not the type of wicket you could walk out and hit it all over the park on," Kallis said.
"It was about grafting, old-school test cricket, where you've just got to get in and get some time out in the middle. It's ugly cricket but it is what is required."
Alviro Petersen was a notable exception. Insisting on throwing his wicket away he eventually succeeded, holing out at mid-off.
Doug Bracewell, the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with three for 53, was celebrating again moments later when Martin Guptill intercepted the ball centimetres from the grasstop with a spectacular diving effort in the slips, an early and rare mistake which cost Hashim Amla his wicket.
With South Africa teetering, if you like, at 47 for two, Smith and Kallis took control of game and, with some no-risk cricket, slowly but surely got their side back in front.
Smith's 24th test century was built largely through some impregnable defence and an uncanny ability to work the ball through the leg side. He shuffles to leg and presents a wall in front of the stumps with his impressive girth. Perfectly good deliveries are flicked off his pads, noodled off his hip or worked square. But stray too far outside off and the ball disappears down the ground or through point. And he was prepared to wait, his 100 coming off 201 deliveries.
Still, it was good to see he was only human in the 90s. Having played a near faultless innings, he got an edge on 91 which fell just short of Guptill in the gully.
On 98 he had baled out of a single, leaving Kallis scrambling for his ground at the non-striker's end.
Had Rob Nicol's throw found its mark, Kallis was well short.
Kallis took a touch longer to reach his 100 but he appeared to be the more authoritative of the two. It was his 42nd test hundred and he has now moved ahead of Australian Ricky Ponting and into second place on the list of leading century-makers. He trails only Indian Sachin Tendulkar who has 51 test tons.
"I'm proud of every one of those. Every one meant a lot to me and especially when we had our backs a little bit against the wall and needed some hard graft. It was nice to put in a big performance like that."
There might be more runs to come, with Kallis undefeated on 107. He will resume today with Jacques Rudolph who is on 13.
Kallis felt anything over 300 would be difficult to chase in the fourth innings but suggested his side would like a lead of about 400 to feel comfortable.
Earlier, Trent Boult smashed 22 from one over to help the Black Caps advance their overnight score from 243 for nine to 273.
