MOUNT MAUNGANUI, NEW ZEALAND:Rachin Ravindra struck an impressive double century before South Africa’s top order collapsed on Monday, leaving New Zealand in command of the first Test in Mount Maunganui.
Ravindra crafted a career-best 240 as the home side were dismissed for 511, before the tourists’ inexperience was exposed as they were reduced to 80-4 at stumps on day two.
A Proteas team featuring six players new to international cricket will resume on Tuesday facing a deficit of 431 runs, after four wickets tumbled in the space of 14 overs late at Bay Oval.
Kyle Jamieson took 2-21 and could have had a third if Matt Henry had held a chance in the outfield to remove David Bedingham.
Instead, Bedingham was unbeaten on 29 at stumps, alongside Keegan Petersen on two.
Opener and captain Neil Brand was Jamieson’s first victim, caught behind for four, before fellow-debutant Raynard van Tonder departed in the same over, trapped leg before wicket for a two-ball duck.
Edward Moore (23) ballooned a Henry bouncer to a close fielder before Zubayr Hamza (22) played-on a ball from spinner Mitchell Santner.
Earlier, New Zealand’s last five wickets fell for 38 as they pushed for quick runs.
One of them was Ravindra, whose 366-ball knock was a dramatic turnaround in the longest format, having never scored more than 18 in his six previous Test innings.