New Zealand just needed two hours and thirty minutes on the third day of the first Test, to beat South Africa in a convincing fashion. The hosts secured an innings and 276-run victory in the first Test match, played in Christchurch. This defeat turned out to be South Africa’s second-biggest ever defeat in the longest format of the game.
Early dismissal
After resuming the third day on 34 for 3, the Kiwis just needed two deliveries to pick up the first wicket of the day. Matt Henry bowled a superb delivery to dismiss Rassie van der Dussen for 9 runs.
Temba Bavuma (41 runs off 73 balls) and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (30 runs off 38 balls) made some efforts to recover from the danger but Kiwi pacer Neil Wagner dismissed Bavuma in the 29th over of the second innings.
In the very next over, the hosts were in more trouble as they lost their seventh wicket of the innings after Tim Southee picked up the wicket of Verreynne. Later, Southee scalped the wickets of Kagiso Rabada (0) and Glenton Stuurman (11 runs off 30 balls) to bag five wickets in the second innings of the first Test match. Stuurman's dismissal was the last wicket of the innings as South Africa were bundled out for 111 runs in 41.4 overs.
Southee's record
This five-wicket haul helped Southee in earning his 14th Test five-for and go past Richard Hadlee as New Zealand's highest Test wicket-taker at home.
Earlier, in the first innings, Kiwi pacer Matt Henry picked up seven wickets and scored 58 runs off 68 balls to become the first player in the history of Test cricket to notch a half century batting 11th while picking up seven wickets in the same innings.
Previously, West Indies player Wes Hall scored 50 runs (not out) and picked up 5 wickets conceding 20 runs against India, in a Test match played back in 1962. That particular Test match was played in Port of Spain.
After winning the first Test, New Zealand have a chance of securing a first series victory against South Africa. This first Test victory for New Zealand turned out to be their only fifth Test win against South Africa, out of 48 matches.
New Zealand’s last Test victory against the Proteas took place back in 2004, in Auckland.
