Rachin Ravindra scored a brilliant double century before South Africa’s top order collapsed on Monday, giving New Zealand control of the first Test at Mount Maunganui.
Ravindra scored a career-best 240 as the home side were all out for 511, before the tourists’ inexperience was exposed as they collapsed to 80–4 at stumps on the second day.
The Proteas, featuring six new players to international cricket, will resume facing a deficit of 431 runs after the fall of four wickets in the space of 14 overs at the Bay Oval on Tuesday.
Kyle Jamieson took 2-21 and could have finished third if Matt Henry had kept his chances to remove David Bedingham in the outfield.
Instead, Bedingham was unbeaten on 29 and Keegan Pietersen was unbeaten on two at stumps.