It would be an understatement to say that it’s been another seesawing day off Test cricket at Hagley Oval.

South Africa’s progress from yesterday was superbly kept in check by the New Zealand seamers, as the wheels began to come off in the first session. Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen resumed from where they left off. Both batters remained circumspect for much of their partnership, but they added a total of 58 runs.

The hosts got the much-needed breakthrough when a well-directed straight yorker from Matt Henry struck the base of Bavuma’s stumps. One wicket brought another, as Kyle Verreynne edged a meek drive to second slip, which gave Henry his third wicket of the innings.

Despite finding it difficult to score, van der Dussen continued to occupy the crease, but the pressure was real. In his innings of 35 from 124, he found the boundary exactly once, and an attempt to hit another boundary cost him his wicket. A full, wide delivery from Neil Wagner enticed a drive, which he edged to second slip.

With the tail exposed, the Kiwis continued to maintain the tight lines. Another lapse in concentration from a Proteas batter on the stroke of lunch ensured that NZ would take the first session with ease. Wiaan Mulder top-edged a half-hearted pull, and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell took the easiest of catches. South Africa were right on the precipice of the 300 threshold, but they had only three wickets in hand.

The situation didn’t improve for SA right after the break. Rain caused a short interruption, but two overs later, Kagiso Rabada edged one to the cordon. 350 seemed a fair distance away, but the arrival of Keshav Maharaj helped provide a late kick alongside Marco Jansen.

Neil Wagner’s short-ball tactic may have kept the batters wary, but Jansen and Maharaj took on a more gung-ho and attacking approach. Jansen used his height to his advantage, and Maharaj unfurled his priceless, aggressive strokeplay all around the ground. The pair added a crucial 62 runs between them, and this was the partnership that helped propel the Proteas closer to a strong first-innings total.

However, the fun and games were finite, as Kyle Jamieson claimed the final two wickets of Maharaj and Sipamla in the 133rd over, bringing an end to the SA innings at 364.

Matt Henry and Neil Wagner starred for the hosts. Relentless spells from both bowlers ensured that the Proteas would not amass a gargantuan first-innings score, and constantly kept the middle-order batters guessing.

The South Africans had more reasons to celebrate, as Kagiso Rabada drew first blood in the opening over of the Blackcaps innings. Skipper Tom Latham tickled an edge down the leg side to Kyle Verreynne, who took a fantastic jumping catch. Rabada continued to shine, as three overs later, Will Young edged a half-volley outside off to the keeper as well. Both openers may have fallen prey to rather innocuous deliveries, but these were the very moments that proved to be the much-coveted confidence boost that SA were in search of.

Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls managed to steer NZ to safety before the tea break. Conway did well to blunt the attack from one end, while Nicholls was hitting his boundaries to make sure that his team weren’t stagnating after two early setbacks. Conway survived a couple of close calls, but his chancy vigil reached a rather tame end, as he was the second NZ batter to get burgled down the leg side, giving Marco Jansen his first wicket. At three down, the hosts were clearly under the pump, with a daunting task at hand.

Nicholls was looking very much in the groove, and Daryl Mitchell scored four boundaries early in his stay. But fortunately for SA, there was another breakthrough just when NZ were starting to consolidate. Jansen finally baited Nicholls to cut a short, wide delivery but he couldn’t keep it down.

Sarel Erwee added to his dream game with an agile catch at backward point, sending back the in-form batter. The momentum continued to swing towards the visitors, as Tom Blundell ignored a fullish delivery from Rabada that swung in late and took out his off stump. At five down, NZ were reeling and were desperate to repair the damage dealt.

Colin de Grandhomme came in at No. 7, and signalled his intent from the get-go. He took apart Wiaan Mulder in the 32nd over with a six and two fours. And Mitchell proved to be a capable foil for de Grandhomme towards the end of the final session of the day.

In spite of the fact that there was a lot of ground to regain, de Grandhomme decided that attack would be the best defence. He raced to a 36-ball half-century.

The contest is at an intriguing juncture – NZ have made less than half of SA’s total but lost half their wickets, but at the same time, Colin de Grandhomme has looked positive. The focus for the visitors will be cleaning up the other half of the wickets in hand, and it may be a bit tricky now that they’re depleted of reviews. Tune in for the action tomorrow!

SA 364 in 133 overs
NZ 157/5 in 45 overs (de Grandhomme 54* – Rabada 3/37, Jansen 2/48)

New Zealand trail by 207 runs with 5 wickets remaining.