Black Caps in total control against makeshift Proteas after day three

South Africa made the trip to New Zealand without their first-choice players due to their commitments to the SA20 competition back home, and the under-fire second-stringers are staring down the barrel of a big defeat in the opening match of the two-Test series.

After compiling a massive 511 in their first innings, the Black Caps bowled the Proteas out for just 162 on Tuesday morning for a formidable lead of 349 runs.

South Africa resumed on 80/4, and despite a well-played 45 runs off 132 balls from Keegan Petersen in the middle order, they did not manage to provide much further resistance.

Spin bowler Mitchell Santner (3/34) and seamer Matt Henry (3/31) did the majority of the damage for the Black Caps.

And while the Proteas did manage to send four Kiwis back to the pavilion in the second innings, they could not prevent Williamson from making his second straight ton, as New Zealand ultimately finished day three on 179/4, handing them an already unassailable lead of 528, with two full days remaining.

No doubt the Black Caps will likely declare early on Wednesday before giving themselves the better part of five sessions to dispatch the Proteas and wrap up what looks - barring some sort of miracle innings from the tourists on day four and five - a big win.

The Proteas have never lost a Test series to New Zealand in their long and proud history but face an uphill battle to hold onto that record due to the weakened team they have fielded for this series.

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