NZ VS SA TESTS

That's all we have from this one-sided Test match. There is one more left for South Africa on this tour, again at the Hagley Oval, starting on 25th February 2022. Do join us for the coverage. The first ball will be at 3.30 am IST (10 pm GMT, previous day) but as usual, the build-up will begin in advance. Until we meet again, it's goodbye and cheers!

For picking 9 wickets in the match and scoring 58 runs with the bat, Matt Henry has been given the Player of the Match award.

Tim Southee comes up for a quick interview. The speedster starts by saying that it's not in South Africa's nature to get rolled over so they knew that they will have to work hard. States that it's been a clinical three days for them. Mentions that different guys stepped up on different occasions and that's the way they want to play. Regarding his record of becoming the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand in Tests at home, Southee chooses to remain humble and replies that when you play for a long time, you tick off a few milestones. He is really proud to be in the same conversation as Sir Richard Hadlee. Signs off by saying that they want to enjoy this win but at the same time, they are aware that South Africa will bounce back.

The Kiwis will remember this Test match for their quality show! Matt Henry set the tone on Day 1 with his scintillating bowling and then the other Henry, Henry Nicholls took the mantle with the bat. His century and partnerships kept New Zealand always ahead and then Neil Wagner's blitz with the bat on the morning of Day 2 completely deflated the Saffas. Tom Blundell and Matt Henry piled on the misery with a 94-run stand for the final wicket and shut the door of any comeback for the touring team.

Just a month back, South Africa were on cloud nine after beating India at home but just in three days on this tour, they have come crashing down. Insipid batting, unconvincing bowling and mediocre catching were the three prime reasons for their loss. The conditions in New Zealand demand your batting technique be well polished but it wasn't. In the first innings, they played at many deliveries deserving to be left and kept on erring. The picture remained the same in the second innings too. With the ball, their inexperience showed up as they failed to stick to a consistent line and length but things could have been different, had they not dropped SEVEN catches - Tom Latham once, Henry Nicholls twice, Neil Wagner once, Tim Southee twice and Matt Henry once. All these added to their misery and New Zealand stormed away with a 387-run lead.

Thorough dominance! New Zealand were facing a team on a high after its recent success against India and they were without the likes of Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson and Trent Boult. Did that make any difference? A resounding no. The Kiwis have finished the first Test match in three days and it's a testament to their bench strength and the quality they possess in this format, especially at home.

There it is, the waiting period of 18 years is over - New Zealand have finally beaten South Africa in a Test match. The last time they won, Stephen Fleming was the captain and it has been a really long wait for the Kiwis. Seven wickets to pick this morning and the hosts did that without breaking a sweat. Tim Southee was exceptional, as he bagged a 5-fer and he now has the most Test wickets at home for New Zealand, surpassing Sir Richard Hadlee.

OUT! LBW! Tim Southee finishes things off. He goes wide of the crease and angles a length ball, around middle and leg, Glenton Stuurman hangs on his back foot to defend but misses and gets hit on the pads. An appeal for LBW is made but that looked like going down. The umpire remains unmoved. Tom Latham is not too convinced when he decides to take the DRS but it turns out to be in his favour as the Ball Tracking shows three reds. Wonderful bowling by Tim Southee, he finishes with a five-wicket haul. New Zealand win the match by an innings and 276 runs!

Full, angling on middle. Blocked to mid on.

Outside off, on a length. Glenton Stuurman has a feel for it but fails to get any bat on it.

Full ball, outside off. Glenton Stuurman stays back and pushes it to mid off.

Around off. Duanne Olivier defends it with an angled bat to point.

A length ball, on off. Duanne Olivier keeps it out.

Back of a length, on off. Blocked out.

A length ball, on off. Duanne Olivier defends it with soft hands and gets a thick outside edge, short of the fielder at first slip.

A length ball, on the pads. Glenton Stuurman looks to flick but gets a top edge towards the fine leg region and it falls safely. The batters take a single.

FOUR! Edged! Short of a length, outside off. Glenton Stuurman looks to drive it uppishly but gets an outside edge over the slip cordon for a boundary. Daryl Mitchell, at first slip, leaps but to no avail.