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South Africa 95 all out - Matt Henry 7/23
New Zealand 116/3 - Nicholls 37* Wagner 2*
NZ lead by 21 runs
6:33pm - STUMPS
And that looks like stumps! Nicholls and Wagner walk off with South Africa.
So, hard to describe that as being anything other than New Zealand's day.
Led by Matt Henry's 7/23, the Blackcaps have finished day one with a lead of 21 runs, and seven first innings wickets still in hand.
South Africa bowled well, but were let down by their fielding, with no fewer than four dropped catches.
But the Proteas have the quality to turn things around with the ball, and will eye quick wickets on day two with the pitch still offering a bit of assistance.
We'll be back to cover day two from 11am tomorrow - so please join us then!
6:30pm - 39 overs
Olivier to Nicholls.
Short to start, and Nicholls takes one down to fine leg. Wagner comes onto strike as night watchman.
Dropped! Olivier tucks Wagner up, and he steers the ball to short leg, where van der Dussen can't hang onto the catch.
Bouncer to follow, and Wagner ducks under it.
Full from Olivier, and Wagner digs it out for a single to fine leg. Nicholls with one ball to face in the over.
Nicholls is hit high on the back leg to end the over.
NZ 116/3
6:26pm - 38 overs
Jansen continues, around the wicket to Nicholls, three overs left.
Nicholls gets a single with a leading edge to cover, bringing Wagner to face.
Wagner plays out three balls, before Jansen comes back over the wicket. Wagner leaves the final ball.
NZ 114/3
6:21pm - 37 overs
Four overs left in the day's play. Olivier comes around the wicket to Conway.
WICKET! And Olivier gets his man! Conway plays back to a ball he should have gotten forward to, and gets an inside edge back onto his stumps. Conway goes for 36, Neil Wagner comes in as night watchman.
Big few overs for South Africa here, if they can get Wagner before the close then that'll be a huge moral victory.
Short to Wagner first up, and he turns the ball to fine leg for one.
Nicholls on strike, and he defends for a single to point.
Wagner sees out the over.
NZ 113/3
6:15pm - 36 overs
Jansen returns for another spell before stumps. Over the wicket to Conway.
Too straight to start, and Conway works to fine leg for one more.
Nicholls takes strike. He gets a leg bye to square leg.
Conway on strike again. Jansen comes around the wicket.
Chance as Conway hooks, but the ball evades the fine leg fielder. One more run.
Nicholls on strike, and Jansen sends it past leg stump.
NZ 111/2
6:10pm - 35 overs
Olivier comes back into the attack, over the wicket to Nicholls.
Starts on the pads, and Nicholls clips the ball through square leg, comes back for two runs and that's New Zealand's 100 runs up!
Olivier goes too full, and Nicholls stands tall and punches him for four more through mid-off.
Short in reply from Olivier, and Nicholls pulls one more down to fine leg for another single.
Conway with two balls to face. Olivier goes short, and Conway pulls another one to midwicket.
Nicholls on strike, one to come. Short again, Nicholls pulls into the leg side and gets two more.
NZ 108/2
6:05pm - 34 overs
Stuurman comes over the wicket to Nicholls.
Stuurman goes across Nicholls, and is called for a wide.
Nicholls tucks a single to midwicket to give Conway one ball to face in the over.
The ball clips the pad, runs four four leg byes, and puts New Zealand into the lead!
NZ 97/2
6:00pm - 33 overs
Rabada for another over, around the wicket to Conway.
Chance! Rabada goes full, and Conway chips the ball over him for four more to long-off. Caught and bowled opportunity there for Rabada, and Conway gets away with one.
Conway then gets a single, nudging one to midwicket.
Nicholls faces. He inside edges onto his pad to tease South Africa into a half-appeal for lbw, no chance though.
Rabada goes to length, and Nicholls punches one to cover.
One to come, Conway faces. He defends the final ball.
NZ 92/2
5:56pm - 32 overs
Stuurman to Conway.
He goes short with his fourth ball, and Conway rocks back and pulls in front of square and comes back for two runs as the ball's fielded on the boundary.
Short again to Conway, and this time he cuts the ball out to the point boundary for a single to raise the 50-partnership between these two, and end the over.
NZ 86/2
5:52pm - 31 overs
Rabada continues to Conway, South Africa don't have a fifth seamer like New Zealand do in de Grandhomme.
Conway is tucked up and gets a single to midwicket, and gives Nicholls two balls to face.
Nicholls sees the over out. No he doesn't Rabada's bowled a no ball.
Dropped! The extra ball nearly brings a wicket! Nicholls cuts straight to Bavuma at point, but he's shelled it. Nicholls is given another life!
NZ 83/2
5:47pm - 30 overs
Stuurman to Conway now.
Stuurman gets the ball to bounce off a length, and really makes Conway uncomfortable as he manages to squeeze the ball to fine leg for one run.
Nicholls on strike. Stuurman goes too straight and is worked around the corner for another single to fine leg.
Conway back on strike. Fifth ball of the over is short, and Conway pulls out to the midwicket boundary for three runs.
NZ 81/2
5:42pm - 29 overs
Rabada comes around the wicket to Conway.
He goes short third ball and Conway pulls one down to fine leg.
Nicholls on strike. He sees out the over.
NZ 76/2
5:39pm - 28 overs
Stuurman to Conway.
Verreynne fumbles the third ball of the innings, and allows this pair to run a bye.
Nicholls takes strike. He leaves the fourth ball and is hit on the pad, but too high for lbw.
Stuurman goes short and wide, and Nicholls has a wild swing at it, and misses.
Nicholls leaves again, and the ball swings past off-stump. Nervy over.
NZ 75/2
5:34pm - 27 overs
Rabada to Nicholls. This is now the highest partnership of the match, 34 runs so far.
Full from Rabada, and Nicholls beatifully drives towards mid-on where Olivier dives to save four runs.
Rabada comes around the wicket and gives Nicholls width, only to be cut for four behind point. Shot.
NZ 74/2
5:31pm - 26 overs
Stuurman to Conway. Around the wicket.
Shot! Too full to start the over, and Conway drives through cover for four runs! One of the shots of the day so far.
Just the boundary from the over.
NZ 70/2
5:27pm - 25 overs
Bowling change, Rabada replaces Olivier, around the wicket to Conway.
Chance! A wider ball sees Conway unsure whether to play or leave, and manages to use the face of the bat and get the ball into the gap between gully and third slip for four more.
One ball to come, and Conway pushes a single into cover to end the over.
NZ 66/2
5:23pm - 24 overs
Right then, ready for the final hour of play after drinks. Stuurman returns to bowl to Conway.
Conway nudges a single to fine leg to bring Nicholls onto strike.
Nicholls leaves a ball that just creeps over the stumps, well left in the end...
Stuurman strays onto Nicholls' hip, and he turns the ball through leg for two more.
Straight again, and Nicholls turns the ball towards mid-on, where a misfield from Rabada lets them come back for two to finish the over.
NZ 61/2
5:15pm - 23 overs
Olivier, around the wicket to Nicholls, continues for his fifth over.
Dropped! Olivier draws Nicholls' edge, but Hamza spills it. He only went for it with one hand, and Nicholls comes back for two runs.
Olivier goes too full next ball, and Nicholls whips him through midwicket for four, and that brings up the Blackcaps' 50 runs!
Too full again, and this time Nicholls drives through cover for four more! Ten runs from the over, and that's drinks.
NZ 56/2
5:10pm - 22 overs
Jansen to Conway.
Full first up, and Conway produces the most beautiful straight drive straight back to the bowler, who fields to save a boundary.
Jansen goes full on leg stump with his fifth ball, and Conway flicks it for a single to fine leg.
Nicholls on strike, one ball to come. Short to Nicholls, who defends into leg and steals one.
NZ 46/2
5:05pm - 21 overs
Olivier continues, Nicholls takes guard for his first ball.
Bouncer, Nicholls ducks under it, and Verreynne can't get up to take it, as the ball rolls away for four byes.
Olivier goes too full, and Nicholls punches the ball through mid-on for four runs to get off the mark.
Nicholls watches out the rest of the over.
NZ 44/2
5:01pm - 20 overs
Nicholls is the new man, batting at No.4, but it'll be Conway on strike for this over, bowled by Jansen.
Conway plays out the first five balls, and is hit on the pad for an lbw appeal to the sixth. Not out, too high.
Maiden.
NZ 36/1
4:56pm - 19 overs
Olivier to Conway, runs starting to flow.
Full to start the over, and Conway defends to cover for a single.
Latham faces, appeal as he's beaten pushing forward in defence, but he didn't get near it.
WICKET! Bowls him! Latham plays down the wrong line, and the ball straightens past the bat to take out off-stump! Latham goes for 15, Henry Nicholls is in next.
NZ 36/2
4:51pm - 18 overs
Jansen to Conway.
Jansen goes short, and Conway gets up on his back leg and pulls the ball to deep square leg for two.
Short again from Jansen, and this time Conway pulls in front of square, and runs three out to midwicket.
NZ 35/1
4:47pm - 17 overs
Olivier resumes to Conway.
Conway presses forward and gets an inside edge that allows him to run a single to fine leg.
Latham on strike. Olivier gets too full, and Latham punches the ball back past the bowler and through mid-off to come back for two.
Chance! Latham is squared up on the back foot, and edges the ball between third slip and gully for four.
Olivier strays down leg to finish the over, and clips Latham's thigh pad for four leg byes.
Big over, 11 runs from it.
NZ 30/1
4:43pm - 16 overs
Jansen to Latham for the first time since dropping him.
Bouncer to start, Latham ducks under it as part of another maiden over.
NZ 19/1
4:39pm - 15 overs
Bowling change. Rabada is replaced by Olivier. Over the wicket to Conway.
Huge full toss first up, but Conway can't put it away down leg.
Olivier comes around the wicket after Conway drives the second ball to mid-on.
Conway plays out a maiden.
NZ 19/1
4:34pm - 14 overs
Jansen continues to Conway, swinging the ball away from the pair of left-handers.
Conway defends to cover and steals a single to get off the mark.
One from the over.
NZ 19/1
4:31pm - 13 overs
Rabada to Latham, around the wicket.
Bounce to start! The ball takes off a length, and Verreynne does brilliantly to gather it behind the stumps.
Another maiden over for Rabada.
NZ 18/1
4:27pm - 12 overs
First bowling change of the innings, Marco Jansen replaces Stuurman. Jansen is, more or less, a left-armed Kyle Jamieson, so this will be interesting. Young faces.
Appeal for a catch at short leg as Young is tucked up first ball, but no bat involved.
WICKET! But Young doesn't survive this one! Young nibbles at a wide delivery, and gets a feather through behind to Verreynne's gloves. Young goes for eight, Devon Conway comes in at No.3.
Conway takes guard, the first time he's faced his native South Africa as an international. Wide and swigning away from Conway, and he leaves his first ball alone.
Full to finish, and Conway defends.
Wicket maiden for Jansen.
NZ 18/1
4:21pm - 11 overs
Rabada to Latham, and he watches out a maiden over.
NZ 18/0
4:17pm - 10 overs
Stuurman still bowling to Latham.
Dropped! Latham is squared up by Stuurman, and gets an edge that flies to gully - where Jansen can't hold onto the catch! Stuurman's first test wicket goes begging, and Latham is given a life on nine.
Lbw appeal last ball of the over, umpire says no and Latham runs through for a leg bye. Elgar doesn't review.
NZ 18/0
4:13pm - 9 overs
Rabada to Young.
Another maiden, great over from Rabada.
NZ 17/0
4:09pm - 8 overs
Stuurman resumes to Latham.
And Stuurman bowls his third consecutive maiden over.
NZ 17/0
4:05pm - 7 overs
Rabada to Young.
Shot! Rabada drops one in short, and Young pulls him for four through square leg - great shot to get underway for Young!
Chance! Great comeback from Rabada, draws Young forward and finds the outside edge that evades the slips cordon to race away for four more. Moral victory for Rabada.
Young sees out the rest of the over, eight runs from it.
NZ 17/0
4:02pm - 6 overs
Stuurman to Latham.
Latham watchfully plays out another maiden.
Great start with the ball for South Africa so far.
NZ 9/0
3:57pm - 5 overs
Rabada to Young.
And Young plays out a maiden over.
NZ 9/0
3:54pm - 4 overs
Stuurman for his second over in test cricket. Latham faces.
Latham plays late, very late, and looks to work off his pads, but can't beat Verreynne down leg.
Stuurman gets one to seam back in and hit Latham on the back leg. Ouch.
Maiden over.
NZ 9/0
3:50pm - 3 overs
Rabada continues, Latham on strike.
Rabada drops one in short, and Latham hangs back before smashing the ball through cover-point for four!
Good comeback from Rabada, beats Latham's drive. The fourth ball of the over keeps a touch low, and looks to have hurt Verreynne's fingers with the gloves on. The same thing happened to Blundell in NZ's innings.
Full from Rabada, and this time Latham drives and gets three runs out to point.
Young on strike, one ball to come. He leaves it alone.
NZ 9/0
3:46pm - 2 overs
Stuurman takes the new ball from the other end on debut. He got a golden duck with the bat, but will be licking his lips here. Latham on strike.
Full to start, and Latham whips a single to fine leg to get off strike. Young faces.
Young plays out the rest of the over.
NZ 2/0
3:41pm - 1 over
Rabada to Latham then.
First ball is back of a length on leg-stump, and cramps Latham straight away.
Latham turns into leg for a single to get underway second ball. Will Young to take guard.
Wide and shaping away from Young, and he leaves it alone.
Rabada beats Young twice to finish the over, but he survives.
NZ 1/0
3:38pm
Latham and Young make their way to the middle. Latham will take guard for the first ball, with his last test knock being 252 - on this very ground. He won't have things as easy this time around though.
Kagiso Rabada to take the ball for South Africa.
3:33pm
Apologies, the change of innings has also served as the tea break. So we're all ready for the final session.
3:27pm
We're all ready for the second innings. Not long to go before tea.
And make no mistake, South Africa boast a bowling attack just as formidable as the Blackcaps'.
Watch out for Rabada and Olivier, who'll almost certainly take the new ball.
Latham and Young will open up for the Blackcaps.
3:19pm - END OF INNINGS
Wagner to Olivier.
Inswinging yorker, and the No.11 keeps it out to start the over.
WICKET! Edge, and Latham takes it at second slip.
South Africa are all out for 95, and the Blackcaps couldn't have asked for a better first innings with the ball.
Young and Latham race off to get ready to bat, but the rest of the Blackcaps embrace Matt Henry, who's finished with figures of 7/23.
We'll be back shortly with New Zealand's first innings.
3:16pm - 49 overs
Right then. Matt Henry on a hat-trick, No.11 Duanne Olivier on strike.
Hat-trick ball. It's wide, and swinging away. Olivier leaves it, and Blundell lets it through for four byes. Anti climax.
Henry still on for eight though. Appeal as the ball makes a noise past the bat, but appears to be bat hitting pad.
Olivier is hit on the glove, and gets a single to square leg to get underway.
Jansen on strike, and he plays out the over.
SA 95/9
3:12pm - 48 overs
Wagner from the other end, hoping he doesn't take the last wicket to give Henry a shot at his hat-trick.
Jansen turns the ball through midwicket and gets off the mark with two.
Jansen plays out the over.
SA 90/9
3:08pm - 47 overs
Henry, still looking for five wickets, to Verreynne.
WICKET! Huge lbw appeal first ball of the over! Umpire says no. Looks like it could be sliding down leg, but Latham wants to review it. Blundell is confident. And he has good reason - it's hitting the stumps! That's five wickets for Matt Henry, and boy has he deserved them!
Verreynne goes for 18, Kagiso Rabada is in next.
WICKET! Make that six for Henry! Rabada pokes at a wide ball, and gets a thin edge through to Blundell. He goes for a duck, Glenton Stuurman, on debut, is in next.
WICKET! Two-in-two, and seven for Matt Henry! Stuurman gets a golden duck on debut, as he edges behind through to Blundell!
Henry will be on a hat-trick with the first ball of next over!
SA 88/9
2:59pm - 46 overs
Wagner, still looking for his first wicket of the innings. Verreynne on strike.
Wagner goes short, and Verreynne pulls the fourth ball of the over out to square leg for one.
Jansen sees out two balls to end the over.
SA 88/6
2:55pm - 45 overs
Henry to Jansen, one wicket away from his maiden test five-wicket haul.
And it's a maiden, despite some play and misses from Jansen.
SA 87/6
2:51pm - 44 overs
Wagner to Verreynne, but keep an eye on Jansen at the other end, who likes to give it a whack.
Wagner falls in his delivery stride, but he's up on his feet in no time.
Chance! Wide, and Verreynne slashes at the ball, but it falls short of Nicholls at gully.
Verreynne works two out to square leg with the final ball of the over.
SA 87/6
2:47pm - 43 overs
Back after drinks. One ball to come, Henry to Jansen.
Jansen takes guard, and defends.
SA 85/6
2:44pm - 42.5 overs
Henry to Hamza.
Blundell doesn't take a ball cleanly, and is hit on the fingers. He looks in a bit of pain, but he's going to continue.
WICKET! No issue from Blundell there! Henry goes back of a length, and Hamza gets a thin edge through to the keeper! Hamza goes for 25. Marco Jansen is in at No.8.
That'll be drinks too.
SA 85/6
2:40pm - 42 overs
Wagner continues, Verreynne seeming to hog the strike at the moment.
Verreynne drives to cover where sub fielder Blair Tickner keeps them to a single. Tickner is fielding in his baseball cap, because he hasn't *officially* made his test debut yet - and doesn't have a black cap.
Hamza defends the final ball of the over and steals a single to mid-on.
SA 85/5
2:36pm - 41 overs
Henry to Verreynne.
Outside edge first ball, and it rolls through gully for four through third man.
Verreynne defends and pinches another single into the covers.
Hamza faces the last ball of the over, and defends back to Henry.
SA 83/5
2:32pm - 40 overs
Double bowling change. Wagner replaces Jamieson.
Verreynne plays back and punches the third ball of the over through cover for a single.
Hamza sees out the rest of the over.
SA 78/5
2:29pm - 39 overs
Henry does come back, replacing Southee. Bowling to Verreynne.
This pair have added 24 runs so far, the highest partnership of the innings.
Henry goes short, and Verreynne pulls a single to fine leg.
Chance! Hamza drives the last ball back at Henry, who streches out his right hand but can't hang onto the return catch. Hamza given a life on 24.
SA 77/5
2:25pm - 38 overs
Jamieson stays on, no sign of bringing back Henry yet.
Wide to start at Verreynne, and the wicketkeeper cuts four behind point, great shot.
Jamieson goes back of a length to finish the over, and Verreynne tucks another single to square leg.
SA 76/5
2:21pm - 37 overs
Southee for another over to Hamza.
Too full, and Hamza drives through cover, but doesn't get the timing. He'll pick up three runs to bring Verreynne onto strike.
Verreynne squeezes an outside edge past gully and gets a single.
Hamza on strike for the last ball, and he plays and misses at a ball that goes past leg stump.
SA 71/5
2:17pm - 36 overs
Jamieson for his 10th over of the day, Hamza on strike.
Too straight to start, and Hamza gets a leg bye to fine leg. Verreynne on strike.
And he plays out the over.
SA 67/5
2:13pm - 35 overs
Southee continues to Hamza.
Too full to start the over, and Hamza shows off an off-drive this time, and beats a diving Henry to get four more.
Hamza tucks the final ball of the over off his pads and gets a single to square leg.
SA 66/5
2:09pm - 34 overs
Jamieson to Verreynne.
And that's another maiden.
SA 61/5
2:05pm - 33 overs
Southee to Hamza.
Southee drops one in short, and Hamza rocks back to pull the ball through square leg for four! Hamza's played some very nice shots so far after lunch.
Southee sends down another bouncer, and this time Hamza gets out of the way.
SA 61/5
2:01pm - 32 overs
Jamieson continues, Verreynne to face.
Verreynne glances a leg bye to fine leg for a single, before Hamza ends the over with another one into the covers.
Two from the over.
SA 57/5
1:57pm - 31 overs
Kyle Verreynne takes strike to face Southee, he averages over 50 in first class cricket, but just 12 in tests so far. What can he do here?
Shape away from Southee, and Verreynne leaves it alone first up.
Southee goes straight, and Verreynne tucks off his hip for a single to square leg.
Hamza on stirke. Chance! He edges the ball just short of a diving Nicholls at gully, and comes back for two runs.
Verreynne plays out the rest of the over.
SA 55/5
1:52pm - 30 overs
Jamieson takes the ball from the other end. Hamza on strike
And Hamza plays out a maiden over.
SA 52/5
1:48pm - 29 overs
Southee to Bavuma.
Starts full and straight, Bavuma defends. Bavuma gets a single off his legs out to square leg next ball.
Hamza faces up, and drives Southee straight back down the ground for four to start the session!
Hamza gets a single to midwicket next ball, and that's South Africa's 50!
Bavuma back on strike, and he drives two more through cover.
WICKET! And Southee strikes with the last ball! Full on leg stump, Bavuma looks to turn it through the leg side, but gets a leading edge straight to Conway! Bavuma goes for seven, Kyle Verreynne is the next batter.
SA 52/5
1:42pm
We're back for the second session. Crucial two hours coming up for South Africa, they can come a long way to losing a test with a bad performance.
Tim Southee will open up with the ball.
1:05pm - LUNCH
New Zealand's session, easily.
Led by Matt Henry, the Blackcaps have wiped out South Africa's top order, leaving this pair with a serious rebuilding job to do this afternoon.
The Kiwi bowlers have collectively gone at less than two runs an over, sending South Africa into the break at 44/4.
But there are signs the pitch is starting to flatten out, and will only get better to bat on throughout this test match.
We'll be back in around 40 minutes for the afternoon session.
1:03pm - 28 overs
Last over before lunch. Wagner to Hamza.
And he goes short to start, Hamza ducks under it. Young goes back in under the helmet at short leg.
Double bluff, as Wagner goes full and wide that Hamza leaves.
Short ball four, and Hamza gets his gloves out of the way as the ball goes past.
Wide again, and Hamza leaves it alone. One ball to come before lunch - can the Blackcaps get one more wicket?
Wide to finish, Hamza leaves it, and that's lunch!
SA 44/4
1:00pm 27 overs
De Grandhomme to Hamza, not long until lunch on day one.
Starts down leg, and Hamza misses his attempted glance.
De Grandhomme goes too full, and Hamza clips him for a single down to fine leg.
Just a single from the over.
SA 44/4
12:56pm - 26 overs
Wagner carries on to Bavuma.
Huge slash from Bavuma - but he misses. Again, Wagner goes full next up, and Bavuma misses.
Shape back into Bavuma now! Bavuma gets his bat out of the way in time.
Chance! Wagner finds the outside edge this time, but the ball drops short of Latham and Southee behind the wicket.
Full to finish, and Bavuma drives the cover where de Grandhomme misfields to allow two runs.
SA 43/4
12:53pm - 25 overs
Henry's given a rest, de Grandhomme takes the ball for his first spell of the morning. Bowling to Hamza.
Shape away from the right hander, and Hamza leaves it
Hamza comfortably sees out a testing first over from de Grandhomme, another maiden.
SA 41/4
12:49pm - 24 overs
Wagner to Bavuma.
Swing first ball, and Bavuma edges onto his pads.
Wagner isn't reverting to his short-ball approach just yet, and is looking to test Bavuma outside off-stump.
Bavuma isn't tempted though, and plays out another maiden.
SA 41/4
12:45pm - 23 overs
Henry for his ninth over of the morning. Hamza faces.
Hamza plays out a maiden.
SA 41/4
12:42pm - 22 overs
Bowling change. Neil Wagner replaces Jamieson. Hamza on strike.
Length to start, and Hamzatucks a single to square leg.
Bavuma sees out the over.
SA 41/4
12:39pm - 21 overs
Henry continues, figures of 3/15 so far. Hamza on strike.
Another lbw appeal third ball, but looks like Hamza's hit it onto his pad. Not out the decision, no review from Latham.
Hamza works a single out to deep squre leg. Bavuma on strike, and he sees out the over.
SA 40/4
12:35pm - 20 overs
Jamieson to Bavuma, two new batters at the crease.
Too straight from Jamieson, and Bavuma clips the ball out to deep square leg for one more.
Hamza takes strike for his first ball. Inswinger first up, and Hamza has no idea as his inside edge narrowly misses the stumps. Hamza gets off the mark with an inside edge to fine leg.
Bavuma back on strike, and sees out the over.
SA 39/4
12:30pm - 19 overs
Henry to Markram.
Very tight leave first up, and Markram is lucky not to lose his off stump.
WICKET! Markram leaves his bat out at a shorter ball that moves away, and takes the edge through to Blundell. The Blackcaps all celebrate and the umpire gives it out straight away, but Markram refers it.
Huge spike on ultra edge as the ball passes the bat, so Markram's sent on his way for 15. Temba Bavuma is in at No.5.
Bavuma faces up, and leaves his first ball alone. Second ball shapes away from Bavuma, who plays and misses. Bavuma pinches a single to point to get off the mark next ball.
WICKET! And again! Two in the over and this time it's van der Dussen! Length ball that van der Dussen prods at, getting the outside edge to Southee at third slip! Van der Dussen goes for eight, Zubayr Hamza is in at No.6.
SA 37/4
12:23pm - 18 overs
Jamieson to van der Dussen.
Bouncer last ball of the over, van der Dussen pulls and gets a top edge that falls safely and goes for four. Not convincing, but still a boundary.
SA 36/2
12:18pm - 17 overs
Henry to van der Dussen.
Full to start the over, and van der Dussen punches into cover for a single.
Markram faces, another lbw appeal as he's hit on top of the pad trying to leave. Not out the call. Long conference between the Blackcaps, and Latham refers in the nick of time. It's so close, but not enough of the ball is hitting the stumps to overturn the decision. Not out stands.
Shortish ball from Henry, and Markram plays back to slash through gully for four. Catching chance, but placed it wide enough of Nicholls to collect a boundary.
Five from the over.
SA 32/2
12:14pm - 16 overs
Jamieson continues after drinks. Van der Dussen on strike.
Another lbw appeal against van der Dussen now! Huge inswinger that van der Dussen looks to leave, and he's hit high on the pad. Not out though, ball going comfortably over the stumps.
Van der Dussen gets a single out to deep square leg from the fifth ball, and gives Markram one to face in the over.
Markram leaves it alone.
SA 27/2
12:10pm - 15 overs
Bowling change, Southee's out of the attack - but he's replaced by Henry and not de Grandhomme.
Van der Dussen on strike.
Lbw appeal third ball as van der Dussen goes across his stumps to work the ball into leg. Umpire says not out, Latham doesn't review.
Van der Dussen plays back and gets a leg bye with the last ball of the over.
SA 26/2
12:03pm - 14 overs
Jamieson to Markram.
Jamieson's all over Markram like a cheap suit, but the South African No.3 survives the over.
That's a maiden over, and that's drinks.
SA 25/2
11:58am - 13 overs
Southee into his seventh, van der Dussen faces. Don't expect de Grandhomme to be far away.
Southee works him outside off, before van der Dussen gets off strike with a leg bye to the fifth ball of the over.
Markram to face the last ball of the over. He defends and gets a single to point.
SA 25/2
11:54am - 12 overs
Jamieson into his second over, van der Dussen on strike.
Van der Dussen defends into the off-side and steals a single to cover-point.
Markram faces up, and this time he gets a beauty from Jamieson! That's twice in two overs his outside edge has been beaten.
One run from the over.
SA 23/2
11:50am - 11 overs
Southee stays on. Markram faces.
Huge play and miss to a wide delivery third ball of the over, Southee finding some away movement to the right hander.
Beats him! Southee comes up with a peach that Markram plays all around but misses through to Blundell.
Maiden over.
SA 22/2
11:46am - 10 overs
First bowling change of the day, Kyle Jamieson replaces Henry. Markram on strike, Jamieson still averages less than 20 with the ball...
Full to start, and Markram gets forward to defend. Full and straight next ball, and Markram turns the ball out to square leg for three runs.
Erwee on strike to Jamieson.
WICKET! And he gets him first ball! Short of a length and moving away from the left-hander, taking the edge straight to Daryl Mitchell at first slip! Erwee goes for 10, Rassie van der Dussen comes in at No.4.
Van der Dussen faces his first ball, and pushes a single to cover to get off the mark straight away.
Markram returns to strike, and he gets a single to point.
Van der Dussen to face the last. He can't get his bat out of the way, and steers the ball to slip. No run.
SA 22/2
11:39am - 9 overs
Southee for his fifth over of the morning. Erwee on strike.
Huge lbw appeal as Erwee leaves the last ball of the over! Umpire says not out, and Latham calls for the review. Is it hitting the stumps? It's not. Good decision in the end.
Maiden over.
SA 17/1
11:34am - 8 overs
Henry for another over, Markram faces.
He finds the outside edge second ball, but Markram plays with soft hands as the ball rolls along the ground to the third man boundary.
Henry goes short and Markram inside edges back onto his body. Excitement from the Blackcaps, but Markram survives.
Markram bats out the over.
SA 17/1
11:30am - 7 overs
Southee to Erwee.
Southee goes short second ball, and Erwee gets back to pull the ball very fine for the first boundary of the day. Good shot.
Southee comes around the wicket and gets huge shape back into the left-hander, but Erwee leaves it alone.
Four runs from the over.
SA 13/1
11:26am - 6 overs
Henry to Erwee.
Too full first ball, and Erwee punches through mid-off for two runs down the ground.
Lbw appeal next ball! Erwee leaves it alone and is struck high on the front pad, but probably too high to trouble the stumps. Henry's making things happen so far.
Full again with ball five, and Erwee drives the ball out to cover for three runs.
Markram on strike, one ball to come. And he defends.
SA 9/1
11:23am - 5 overs
Southee to Markram.
Lbw appeal first ball, but heading down leg. NZ don't review.
Southee goes too full with the fourth ball, and Markram works the ball through midwicket to get underway with two.
Two runs from the over.
SA 4/1
11:19am - 4 overs
Henry continues. Erwee faces.
Starts full, Erwee drives with no timing. No run.
Erwee is happy to leave the ball across him, before Henry sends down a bouncer fourth ball that is evaded.
Erwee sees out a maiden.
SA 2/1
11:15am - 3 overs
Southee to Erwee, over the wicket.
Shape away, but the leftie leaves it comfortably. Same result second ball, third ball swings down leg and Erwee misses with his flick shot.
Southee goes back to outside off, Erwee is tempted but leaves at the last second. Full with ball five, and Erwee flicks the ball off his pads for a single out to deep square leg for his first test run.
Markram takes strike with one ball to face, and he leaves.
SA 2/1
11:11am - 2 overs
Who takes the ball from the other end? Henry and Jamieson the contenders. It's Henry, over the wicket to Elgar.
Henry starts with a yorker, Elgar keeps it out.
WICKET! Henry strikes in his first over! He nips the ball across Elgar, who reaches for the ball as it takes the edge through to Southee behind the wicket! The South African skipper goes early! Elgar out for one, Aiden Markram replaces him.
Markram takes guard, two balls to come in the over. Wide outside off to start, and Markram leaves. One ball left, and Markram defends to point.
SA 1/1
11:06 - 1 over
Green pitch, cloudy skies. Bowling conditions, what can Southee do first up? Both sides also take a knee for Black Lives Matter before the first ball.
Southee around the wicket straight away.
First ball swings down leg, Elgar plays and misses as Blundell dives to take it cleanly. Straight from Southee to follow, Elgar defends.
Third ball is full, and Elgar gets forward to defend again. Young moves into short leg, as Elgar defends ball four.
Elgar gets off the mark with the fifth ball, pushes a single into cover.
Erwee to face the final ball of the over, his first in tests. Southee hits him on the pad from over the wicket, but missing leg stump.
SA 1/0
11:00am
Right then! Dean Elgar takes strike for the first ball of the series. Tim Southee will open up with the ball for New Zealand.
10:58am
Anthems done and dusted. Tom Latham leads the Blackcaps' huddle - he's already had his first victory today, winning the toss for the first time as test captain.
Elgar and Erwee, on debut, make their way to the middle to open up.
10:53am
Both sets of players prepare to make their way out to the middle for the anthems.
First ball less than 10 minutes away.
10:39am
Colin de Grandhomme has won the selection race for the Blackcaps' all-rounder spot, with the rest of the team as predicted.
NZ: 1-Tom Latham (c), 2-Will Young, 3-Devon Conway, 4-Henry Nicholls, 5-Daryl Mitchell, 6-Tom Blundell (wk), 7-Colin de Grandhomme, 8-Kyle Jamieson, 9-Tim Southee, 10-Matt Henry, 11-Neil Wagner.
South Africa meanwhile have two debutants, Sarel Erwee will open the batting, while Glenton Sturrman replaces Lungi Ngidi, out with a back injury. Zubayr Hamza comes in at No.6, with South Africa not playing a spinner. Aiden Markram drops to No.3 to fit Erwee in.
SA: 1-Dean Elgar (c), 2-Sarel Erwee, 3-Aiden Markram, 4-Rassie van der Dussen, 5-Temba Bavuma, 6-Zubayr Hamza, 7-Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8-Marco Jansen, 9-Kagiso Rabada, 10-Duanne Olivier, 11-Glenton Sturrman.
10:35am
News from the middle, Tom Latham has won the toss and the Blackcaps will bowl first!
We'll have the final XIs shortly.
10:05am
Good morning! We're just under an hour away from the start of play at Hagley Oval.
We're yet to get a final look at the pitch for this first test, but you probably won't need three guesses to work out what colour it'll be...
We'll bring you the toss, and confirmation of the playing XIs as soon as possible.
*****
Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the first test between the Blackcaps and South Africa from Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
After salvaging a series draw against Bangladesh, New Zealand face South Africa in the summer's marquee series - with history looming for the hometeam.
The Blackcaps have never beaten South Africa in a test series and may never have a better chance again. New Zealand are unbeaten in home series since 2017, with their last defeat coincidentally coming against South Africa.
But if they are to create history, they'll need to do it without nearly 300 caps missing for this test at least.
Captain Kane Williamson is still missing with a troublesome elbow, while Ross Taylor has retired from test cricket altogether. Trent Boult is missing for this first test, preparing to welcome his third child.
Henry Nicholls will move up to No.4 in the batting order in Taylor's place, while Daryl Mitchell will come in at five. Matt Henry has been all but confirmed to replace Boult, leaving only the all-rounder's spot up for grabs, coming down to either Rachin Ravindra or Colin de Grandhomme.
This series is vital for the Blackcaps' defence of their World Test Championship title, with defeat almost certainly ruling them out of reaching this cycle's final.
After a few lean years as a test side, South Africa are on the rise. Led by Dean Elgar, the Proteas arrive, after a stunning comeback series victory over India.
The key cog in that series - Keegan Petersen - is missing from the No.3 batting spot, after testing positive for COVID-19.
But South Africa will be boosted by the almost certainly bowler-friendly conditions, deploying a four-pronged pace attack similar to the Blackcaps, led by the outstanding Kagiso Rabada.
TAB odds: New Zealand $1.75, South Africa $3.60, draw $4.05.
Teams (predicted):
NZ: Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi.
