Abysmal Proteas endure another nightmare day in NZ as 1st Test defeat looms

The Proteas face almost certain defeat in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch following another disastrous performance on day two on Friday. 

Cricket is a "funny game", as Duanne Olivier pointed out after day one, and there is always a chance of the unexpected occurring, but if South Africa do find a way to salvage something out of this contest it will surely be the greatest escape in their cricketing history. 

At stumps on day two, the Proteas were 34/3 in their second innings with Temba Bavuma (22*) and Rassie van der Dussen (9*) at the crease, trailing by a massive 353 after New Zealand had posted 482 in their first dig. 

SCOREBOARD | NZ v Proteas - 1st Test

In every aspect, the Proteas have been completely outplayed in this match and when wickets were tumbling late in the day, it bordered on the embarrassing.

Sarel Erwee (0), Dean Elgar (0) and Aiden Markram (2) all fell within quick succession, leaving the visitors reeling at 4/3 after they had spent hours chasing leather all over the Hagley Oval turf. 

It was like the sides were playing on two different wickets, and the optimism that was generated after the Proteas' 2-1 series win against India last month has now been significantly extinguished following two days of seriously poor cricket from coach Mark Boucher's men. 

While the batting struggles commanded attention by the end of the day, it was an equally woeful bowling performance from South Africa, who were unable to build up any sustained pressure as the New Zealanders scored freely. 

The lines and lengths from the Proteas were simply too inconsistent, and they floated through the day for large periods where there didn't appear to be much in terms of plans to get the batters out. 

With every passing run