New Zealand thrash weakened Proteas in first Test

New Zealand took their time but eased to a comprehensive victory over an inexperienced South Africa side by 281 runs late on the fourth day of the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series here at the Bay Oval on Wednesday.

The Black Caps had held a first-innings lead of 349 and declared their second innings on 179 for four just before the start of play to present the Proteas with an imposing victory target of 529.

They never looked like getting close to it but showed some resistance before seamer Kyle Jamieson (4-58) made key breakthroughs and spinner Mitchell Santner (3-59) mopped up the tail to bowl them out for 247.

“Pretty happy, I think any time you win a test match inside four days it’s always pretty pleasing,” said New Zealand skipper Tim Southee. “We know that any South African team is going to fight, they are very passionate people, and we knew that they were going to be up for it over this test match.”

New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a Test series in almost a century of trying but if they finish the job in the second Test in Hamilton next week, the breakthrough triumph will come with a hefty asterisk.

The Proteas sent a severely weakened squad featuring eight uncapped players to New Zealand for the series as Cricket South Africa prioritised their financially lucrative Twenty20 competition (SA20). The Black Caps could only play what was in front of them, however, and simply outclassed their opponents over four, mostly sunny, days.

Local hero Kane Williamson became only the fifth New Zealander to score a century in each innings and allrounder Rachin Ravindra was named man-of-the-match for his mammoth 240 in the first innings.

“Rachin we’ve seen over the last six months or so is a special talent and he showed in this Test match what he’s capable of. I’m sure he’s got a bright future,” added Southee.