Dane Piedt claims a fifer on Test return as South Africa take slender lead

Recalled South African spinner Dane Piedt claimed five New Zealand wickets Wednesday (February 14) to give the understrength tourists a 31-run lead at stumps on the second day of the second Test. New Zealand's batting succumbed to a disciplined attack led by Piedt, in his first Test since 2019, to be all out for 211 in response to South Africa's 242 in Hamilton.

A Proteas team with just 40 Test caps between them have opened up the prospect of squaring the two-match series after crashing to a 281-run loss in the first Test at Mount Maunganui. The Proteas have never lost a Test series to New Zealand but most of their first-choice players stayed home for a domestic T20 competition.

Piedt took career-best figures of 5 for 89 on a spin-friendly Seddon Park pitch as seven wickets tumbled in the final session. The 33-year-old off-spinner, not needed for the first Test, claimed the key wickets of Kane Williamson for 43 and Tom Latham for 40 after lunch, with New Zealand having started soundly to reach 75 for 1.

Rachin Ravindra, who hit a double century in the first Test, played on to Tshepo Moreki for 29 at the start of a hectic third session before Piedt took over. Using good variation and finding decent turn, he removed Glenn Phillips for four and Will Young for 36, along with the last wicket to fall of Neil Wagner, who had raced to 33 off 27 balls before he was stumped.

Dane Paterson was also effective for the Proteas, with his accurate seam bowling earning figures of 3 for 39. His first wicket came in the opening over of the innings when struggling opener Devon Conway was caught behind without scoring.

The Proteas started the day at 220 for 6 but lost their last four wickets in just 8.2 overs as William O'Rourke tore through the tail to finish with figures of 4 for 59 on debut. O'Rourke bowled both of the overnight batsmen, with Shaun von Berg reaching 38 on debut and Ruan de Swardt 64.

Brief scores:

South Africa 242 (Ruan de Swardt 64, David Bedingham 39; William O'Rourke 4 for 59) lead New Zealand 211 (Kane Williamson 43, Tom Latham 40; Dane Piedt 5 for 89) by 31 runs