Southee’s fifer powers Kiwis to rare win over Proteas on Day 3

NZ pacer Tim Southee after claiming figures of 5-35 against South Africa yesterday. Pic/AFP

Tim Southee took five wickets as New Zealand claimed a rare victory over South Africa on Saturday, wrapping up the first Test by an innings and 276 runs early on Day Three in Christchurch.

It is only the fifth time in 46 Tests since 1932 that New Zealand have beaten South Africa with their last victory coming in 2004. South Africa, who were 387 behind after their first innings, resumed the day at 34 for three and showed little appetite to chase down the total.

The Proteas lost their final seven wickets in the morning session. Winning the toss and putting South Africa into bat was critical for New Zealand's success as the tourists crumbled in their first innings for 95 on a green wicket with Matt Henry bagging seven for 23.

A century by Henry Nicholls and a string of 50-plus partnerships saw New Zealand amass 482 in reply and the writing was on the wall for South Africa. The tourists lost three wickets for only four runs at the start of their second innings and as the Test extended into a third day, only the diminutive Temba Bavuma (41) and Kyle Verreynne (30) offered any real resistance. Southee finished with five for 35 while man-of-the-match Henry and Wagner took two wickets each.

Brief scores
SA 95 & 111 (T Bavuma 41, K Verreynne 30; T Southee 5-35) lost to NZ 482 by innings and 276 runs

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