Williamson leads reply after South Africa scores 308

Kane Williamson ensured New Zealand was marginally ahead despite a calf injury to Ross Taylor after the second day of the first Test against South Africa in Dunedin on Thursday (March 9).

Williamson was not out on 78 with Jeetan Patel, the nightwatchman, on nine as New Zealand got to 177 for 3 in reply to South Africa's 308.

Taylor was on eight when he had to go off the field. He had earlier been pinged on the helmet by Morne Morkel, who looked in good fettle in conceding 26 runs from ten overs in what is his comeback Test after a serious back injury.

Earlier, New Zealand wrapped up the South African first innings five overs after lunch, with the last six wickets falling for just 56 runs. It was a rapid end to an innings after Dean Elgar, with a Test-best 140, had his team well placed at 252 for 4 at one stage.

South Africa resumed the day on 229 for 4 and added 23 in 12 overs before Neil Wagner sent back Elgar to end a 104-run stand with Temba Bavuma. Things unravelled quickly for South Africa after that as Quinton de Kock fell to Patel for the third time in as many innings on this tour.

Patel also bowled Kagiso Rabada, while Trent Boult claimed Bavuma for 64, as well as Maharaj and Vernon Philander to return 4 for 64, while Wagner took 3 for 88 and Patel finished with 2 for 85.

By tea, New Zealand was 59 for 1 and added a further 118 for two wickets, plus the loss of Taylor, in the final session.

South Africa removed Tom Latham early, caught behind off Philander for ten, and New Zealand was 15 for 1. But Williamson and Jeet Raval lifted the innings with a 102-run stand, before Raval went for 52. He had offered chances early in the script with some close-run singles before settling down and looked set by the time he brought up his half-century. But he lasted only another seven balls and was unable to score again before he scooped Maharaj to Elgar at mid-wicket.

Williamson had some close calls in his innings as well Maharaj found his edge twice, but both fell fractionally short of Hashim Amla at first slip. On 72 then, he was sent back by Henry Nicholls and made his ground by the slimmest of margins, before an edge off Philander failed to carry to the slip cordon.

The Maharaj-Amla partnership made no mistake when removing Nicholls for 12, with Amla diving to his left to take a one-handed catch.