NZ vs SA: New Zealand beat South Africa by an innings and 276 runs.

New Zealand had a rare victory over South Africa on Saturday, scoring only comprehensive innings and 276 runs in the first Test at Christchurch.

New Zealand had a rare victory over South Africa on Saturday, scoring only comprehensive innings and 276 runs in the first Test at Christchurch. This is the fifth time since 1932 that New Zealand has beaten South Africa in 46 Tests with their last victory in 2004. “This is a great day,” excited Captain Tom Latham said. South Africa, trailing by 387 in the first innings, resumed the day's play at 34 for 3 and showed little appetite to eat the deficit, losing their last seven wickets all out for 111 before lunch.

Latham said winning the toss and making South Africa bat was crucial to New Zealand's victory.

Matt Henry smashed the Green tourists for 95 for 7 in his first innings with 7 for 23.

A century by Henry Nichols and a string of more than 50 partnerships amassed 482 runs in reply to New Zealand and was written on the wall of South Africa.

With New Zealand winning the first series against South Africa, Latham said, "Crossing fingers, we can continue the pace in the second Test."

Ross Taylor retired and Kane Williamson injured - and they won their first Test match in 2008 with strike bowler Trent Bolt-on paternity leave.

"It's been a long time since we've seen any of those three names that were a key part of this site, but it's a testament to the depth we create," Latham said.

Frustrated Proteas captain Dean Elgar could not explain the drop in performance as South Africa won the series against India last month.

“This is where I try to get my head around,” he said.

“But over the last two and a bit days, I feel like our intensity has been low.

“We were knocked out by a majestic New Zealand team.

"Being the captain is very frustrating and the ball (by New Zealand) is hit on both sides of the wicket. You can't set the field for that."

The tourists lost three wickets for four runs at the start of their second innings and the Test was extended till the third day, with only little Temba Bauma and Kyle Verrein providing real resistance.

The 1.62-meter (5 ft 4 in) Bauma, 22 overnight, scored 41 and shared 41 runs with Verrein before Neil Wagner was caught in the leg before the wicket.

Terrain fell for 30 in the next over and was caught on the slip of the Saudi ball, who soon snatched Kagiso Rabada’s wicket to zero.

Pauma's overnight partner Rossi van der Duchen got the ball off South Africa for a bad start to the day.

Zubair Hamza, who scored a maximum of 25 when South Africa scored 95 in his first innings, scored just 6 off 32 balls before edging Kyle Jameson to Daryl Mitchell in the first slip.

The remaining batsmen - Marco Johnson, Glendon Sturman, and Duan Olivier - scored 21 runs between them.

The Saudis took 5 for 35, with Man of the Match Henry and Wagner taking two wickets each.