The Black Caps have suffered an embarrassing eight wicket loss to South Africa on day three of the second cricket Test in Wellington.
Keshav Maharaj celebrates his six wicket haul. Photo: Photosport
The Proteas bowled out the Black Caps for 171 in their second innings, then proceeded to chase down the resulting 81-run target in 24.3 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Opener Stephen Cook (11) and Dean Elgar (17) disappeared along the way but Hashim Amla (38) and JP Duminy (15) were patient in wrapping up the inevitable win.
The Proteas take a 1-0 series lead going into the third Test in Hamilton next week.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj spearheaded the South African bowling effort on day three, picking up his second five-wicket bag in as many Tests.
Maharaj, who returned figures of 5-94 in the drawn first Test in Dunedin last week, found flight and turn to rip through a fragile Black Caps batting line-up.
He finished with career best figures of 6-40 off 20.2 overs including the key wicket of New Zealand opener Jeet Raval, whose 80 was the only innings of substance for the Black Caps.
Jeet Raval. Photo: Photosport
Raval's 65-run partnership with BJ Watling for the sixth wicket delayed the inevitable only briefly.
He saw the New Zealanders through to 139 for 5 at tea, but added only 16 runs before Maharaj struck.
Raval comfortably bettered his previous best innings in five Tests - 55 against Pakistan last November - with his 174-ball innings including 10 boundaries.
But the wickets fell rapidly following his dismissal, only two other players - Neil Broom (20) and BJ Watling (29) - reaching double figures.
South African wicketkeeper Quinton De Kock stumps New Zealand's Jeet Raval. Photo: Photosport
South Africa had opened day three by adding another 10 runs to their overnight total of 349 for 9 to take a 91-run lead over the Black Caps' first innings tally of 268.
The Proteas pace attack dominated early, Morne Morkel striking twice to remove Tom Latham (6) and Kane Williams (1) to leave New Zealand reeling at 2-26 after seven overs.
Morkel also accounted for Broom to finish with figures of 3-50, but it was Maharaj's introduction after lunch which really paid dividends.
He removed Henry Nicholls, unable to repeat his first innings heroics of 118, for seven then Jimmy Neesham for four before snaring the key wicket of Raval.
At 155 for 6, the writing was on the wall for New Zealand and the South Africans duly obliged, snaring the last four wickets for just 16 runs.
Morne Morkel on the way to equaling his highest Test score. Photo: Photosport
Resuming their first innings this morning on 349 for 9, South Africa's Morkel and Vernon Philander lasted three overs, extending their last-wicket partnership to 57 runs.
Morkel equalled his highest score in 72 Tests in reaching 40 before he was bowled by off-spinner Jeetan Patel.
Philander was left unbeaten on 37 with the Proteas bowled out for 359 in reply to New Zealand's 268.
- AAP
