Pumped up Proteas continue resurgence in NZ as Rabada, Jansen fire on 2nd day

South Africa had the cat among the pigeons at the end of the second day of the second Test against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, leaving the hosts on 157/5.

It was, again, an improved collective performance that saw the visitors build on Sarel Erwee's 108 to post a very competitive 364.

That meant New Zealand, who bowled well until a late partnership between Marco Jansen (37*) and Keshav Maharaj (36) rocked them, had their openers prised out by Kagiso Rabada, while Jansen removed Devon Conway (16) and Henry Nicholls (39) to trail by 207 runs.

A late rally from the belligerent Colin de Grandhomme (54*) and the fortunate Daryl Mitchell (29*) that raised a quick 50-run stand for the sixth wicket in 57 balls mitigated New Zealand's collapse, but SA still held all the aces.

SCORECARD | New Zealand v South Africa, Second Test, Day Two

De Grandhomme raised his ninth Test 50 off 36 balls as he sought to arrest the momentum SA gained with Rabada's early strikes.

Rabada had removed captain Tom Latham (0) with the fourth ball of New Zealand innings when strangled him with a leg-trap to leave New Zealand at 4/1.

That became 9/2 at the start of the fifth over when Will Young (4) was coaxed into a false shot off Rabada that gave Kyle Verreynne his second catch.

Conway and Nicholls knuckled down for a 42-run stand for the third-wicket that had the potential of flourishing before Conway gave his scalp way in nicking a harmless Jansen delivery down the leg-side to give Verreynne his third wicket.

That meant New Zealand now had to fight to keep their heads above water in the gloom of late afternoon Christchurch as the Proteas bowlers used the minimal seam and swing to maximum effect.

With New Zealand showing fallibility outside