MOUNT MAUNGANUI: With one day remaining in the first Test match, Black Caps seamer Kyle Jamieson took four wickets on Wednesday to lead New Zealand to a 281-run victory over South Africa. At Mount Maunganui, the tourists’ tenacious fight came to an end when they were dismissed for 247, and the Black Caps achieved their second-largest Test victory by runs.

After 17 unsuccessful efforts dating back to 1931, New Zealand is one step closer to winning a series for the first time against South Africa. The incredibly inexperienced Proteas will require a stunning comeback to win the second and final Test, which begins in Hamilton on Tuesday, given their difficulties at Bay Oval.

One of the six debutants from South Africa, captain Neil Brand acknowledged that his squad was significantly behind the pace. It’s rather discouraging, he remarked. “A very good New Zealand team thoroughly outplayed us. On this wicket, I took a test. It’s upsetting that guys entered and then exited. We’re hoping for a stronger showing in the second Test.

Due to the majority of their first-choice players being involved in their home Twenty20 league, the visitors were compelled to choose a diminished tour team. After dismissing the tourists for 162, New Zealand took the lead with 511 in their opening inning and never looked like losing.

Before play started on Wednesday, the hosts announced their overnight 179–4, leaving South Africa to pursue an unattainable goal of 529. With a 4-58 score and crucial double-strikes at the beginning of the second and third sessions on Wednesday, Jamieson made sure they never got close. David Bedingham was the most important wicket to fall, having scored a career-high 87 from 96 balls before mistiming a pull shot to midwicket just after lunch. It brought an end to a 105-run partnership with Keegan Petersen, who on 16 also failed to control a short ball from Jamieson.

The tourists’ response to the day had started horribly as both openers went out in the first four overs. Tim Southee, Brand’s New Zealand opponent, bowled him for three late on an inswinger, while Edward Moore, having driven a Matt Henry delivery to cover, perished for a duck.

Jamieson ended a determined 63-run partnership for the third wicket when he trapped Raynard van Tonder at first slip for 31. Then, on 36, Zubayr Hamza’s attempted pull shot went easily to mid-on. In order to close up the tail and end with 3-59, spinner Mitchell Santner extracted turn, matching Jamieson’s six scalps for the contest. After scoring 240 in the first innings against New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra was declared man of the match. After just his fourth Test match, Ravindra declared, “This rates highly for me, because of the time spent out there, the different people I batted with, and the partnerships we managed to put down.”

That adds a little more specialness. It’s very satisfying that we completed the task. Kane Williamson continued his incredible run of success in Test cricket by showcasing his skills with the bat, hitting a century in each innings. -AFP