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South Africa 347 for 8 dec (Petersen 106) beat New Zealand 45 (Philander 5-7) and 275 (Brownlie 109) by an innings and 27 runs
New Zealand have a maiden Test hundred from Dean Brownlie to provide some consolation at the end of a Test that they will want to forget, but although they could slow the South African juggernaut they were not about to escape its inevitable destination. Victory fell to South Africa by an innings and 27 runs with tea approaching on the third day and, if New Zealand's humiliation was no longer quite as stark, they were comprehensively outplayed.
Brownlie's mix of ability and spirit was a suitable reminder that New Zealand need players possessing not just one of those qualities in abundance, but both as they seek to remedy one of the most challenging periods in their recent history. They are unlikely to compete in the second Test in Port Elizabeth - it is Nos. 1 v 8 in the Test rankings and a weakened squad is not about to disguise that - but they will be desperate to regroup in time for a home Test series against England in March.
Vernon Philander needed only 26 deliveries to take five New Zealand wickets first time around. It took him 22 overs to take a wicket in the second innings, but in removing BJ Watling, New Zealand's last recognised batsman, he finally gave the impression that the end was near. Their last five wickets fell in ten overs and it was all rounded off by a comical run out of Chris Martin, whose inability at No. 11 has been well chronicled, but who could bat blindfolded with a banana and it would not begin to justify such a farcical conclusion.
New Zealand have a maiden Test hundred from Dean Brownlie to provide some consolation at the end of a Test that they will want to forget, but although they could slow the South African juggernaut they were not about to escape its inevitable destination. Victory fell to South Africa by an innings and 27 runs with tea approaching on the third day and, if New Zealand's humiliation was no longer quite as stark, they were comprehensively outplayed.
Brownlie's mix of ability and spirit was a suitable reminder that New Zealand need players possessing not just one of those qualities in abundance, but both as they seek to remedy one of the most challenging periods in their recent history. They are unlikely to compete in the second Test in Port Elizabeth - it is Nos. 1 v 8 in the Test rankings and a weakened squad is not about to disguise that - but they will be desperate to regroup in time for a home Test series against England in March.
Vernon Philander needed only 26 deliveries to take five New Zealand wickets first time around. It took him 22 overs to take a wicket in the second innings, but in removing BJ Watling, New Zealand's last recognised batsman, he finally gave the impression that the end was near. Their last five wickets fell in ten overs and it was all rounded off by a comical run out of Chris Martin, whose inability at No. 11 has been well chronicled, but who could bat blindfolded with a banana and it would not begin to justify such a farcical conclusion.