Christchurch, Feb 19: Pace bowler Tim Southee grabbed five second-innings wickets as South Africa suffered their second largest innings defeat against New Zealand in the first of the two-Test series at the Hagley Oval here on Saturday.
Thanks to Southee’s incisive bowling (5/35 in 17.4 overs) the Blackcaps thrashed the visitors by an innings and 276 runs with the Proteas capitulating for 111 runs, 35 minutes after the scheduled lunch break.
South Africa started day three on the back-foot, trailing by 353 runs with seven wickets in hand. It did not take much time for Matt Henry to pick up the first wicket of the day, as he bowled Rassie van der Dussen (9) to continue a dream Test performance on his home ground.
The fans in Christchurch were entertained with some top-quality fast bowling through the first session as Kyle Jamieson picked up the wicket of Zubayr Hamza (4) leaving the visitors in all sorts of trouble.
Temba Bavuma (41) was one of the only South African batsmen who put up a fight but Neil Wagner, trapped him for an LBW.
Southee brought up his 200th wicket in New Zealand when he dismissed Kyle Verreynne (30) with a back-of-a-length delivery swinging away outside off. He quickly made it 201 by picking up the wicket of Kagiso Rabada (0).
Wagner picked up his second wicket of the innings with Marco Jansen (10) edging one to Tom Blundell.
Southee secured his five-wicket haul with the final wicket of Glenton Stuurman (11) who was initially adjudged non-out but that decision was changed upon New Zealand’s review.
It is only the second occasion when New Zealand have beaten the Proteas in a Test. The last one was 18 years ago in Auckland. (IANS)
