South Africa defeated New Zealand in a 198-run second Test win in Christchurch on Tuesday to draw the two-match series 1-1.
New Zealand, setting a record target of 426 for victory, were all out in their second innings of 227 eight balls after tea on the final day.
This completed a remarkable turnaround for South Africa, who read out far better conditions than New Zealand after losing by an innings and 276 runs in the first Test at the same ground.
Captain Dean Elgar demanded his side “front up” after that humiliation, and they obliged.
A century from Searle Ervie laid the base for 364 in the first innings, Kagiso Rabada took five for 60 as New Zealand added 71 in the balance and Kyle Verne’s unbeaten 136 in the second innings tightened the grip on New Zealand.
New Zealand started the final day at 94 for four and with Devon Conway and Tom Blundell at the crease, they hoped to save a draw.
But it was a disappointing expectation and their 85-run partnership came to an end shortly before lunch when Conway was taken leg before wicket for 92.
When rain took the players off the field, New Zealand’s hopes of 227 for nine rose again, but it was a brief respite.
The South African-born Conway, who averages 63.91 in 12 innings, had added 32 runs in 60 of his overs and was in sight of his fourth Test century when Lutho Sipamla claimed the wicket with an accurate yorker.
Blundell pressed on with Colin de Grandhomme going for lunch and was set for 44, but his score was removed immediately after the restart without adding up.
He misses a short ball from Marco Jensen and drops it to Temba Bavuma at midwicket.
It opened a rich spell for Jensen, who also took the wickets of Colin de Grandhomme for 18 and Kyle Jamieson for 12.
Kagiso Rabada dismissed Tim Southee and Keshav Maharaj ended the match with Matt Henry out lbw.
It was a disappointing result for New Zealand after a comprehensive victory in the first Test and who were looking for their first series win against South Africa.
He went into Tests with an unchanged side, relied on a fast attack and no spinner as was usually customary on the Panna Hegley Oval wicket.
But South Africa noted that the second Test wicket was more khaki than green, promoted left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj into the starting eleven and became a key point of difference.
Maharaj set the stage in the second innings when he was introduced early and bowled top-order batsmen Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell after Rabada claimed openers Tom Latham and Will Young.
He then finished the Test with the wicket of Henry and left New Zealand again without a series win over South Africa after 17 attempts in 90 years.
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