New Zealand again succumbed to the pace and guile of Dale Steyn (5/33) as South Africa wrapped the second Test at Centurion by 204 runs on day four, taking the two-match series 1-0. The first match at Durban was a draw after three days of play were washed out. Set a target of 400, Henry Nicholls (76) battled hard for the Kiwis, but yet another top-order collapse, which saw New Zealand reduced to 7/4 at one stage, wiped out any chances of the visitors making a comeback.

Resuming the day at 105/6, a gritty Temba Bavuma (40 not out) helped the home side stretch their lead. Faf du Plessis called for the declaration when his side was at 132/7, with a match-winning lead of 399. With more than five sessions of play left, New Zealand had to record the highest ever run chase on South African soil to win the match.

For the third consecutive time across the two Tests, the New Zealand openers were reduced to sitting ducks by Steyn. With cracks opening up on the pitch, combined with the South African pace ace getting the ball to shape away from the batsmen at an alarming rate, all doors of of a comeback were firmly shut in the first over that New Zealand faced in the day.

Tom Latham chopped the ball onto the stumps, while Martin Guptill had no choice but to nick it to first slip from a delivery that seamed away from the off-stump channel. Ross Taylor was unlucky that the ball kept low after pitching on one of the aforementioned cracks; he was out leg-before.

The writing was on the wall for the BlackCaps when skipper Kane Williamson edged Vernon Philander to the 'keeper minutes away from lunch. Nicholls survived a close call for leg-before, but smarted from it by joining hands with BJ Watling to take the fight back to the opposition.

The Nicholls-Watling partnership accounted for 68 runs, restoring some parity before spinner Dane Piedt removed the New Zealand wicket-keeper. Doug Bracewell entertained, thumping Piedt for a couple of big sixes, before Philander trapped him leg-before.

Kagiso Rabada, who struggled for rhythm early on got in among the wickets, dismissing Tim Southee and Neil Wagner. Nicholls ran out of partners, becoming the last man to be dismissed and his fighting knock was brought to an end by Steyn, who picked up a five-for as the Proteas took the game.

Brief scores:

South Africa 481/8 decl. (Faf du Plessis 112, JP Duminy 88, Quinton de Kock 82; Neil Wagner 5/86) and 132/6 (Quinton de Kock 50, Temba Bavuma 40 not out, Tim Southee 3/46, Trent Boult 2/44 beat New Zealand 214 (Kane Willimson 77, Henry Nicholls 36; Kagiso Rabada 3/62, Dale Steyn 3/66) and 195 (Henry Nicholls 76, BJ Watling 32; Dale Steyn 5/33, Vernon Philander 2/34) by 204 runs.