Proteas spinner Dane Piedt grabbed five wickets against New Zealand to give South Africa a 31-run lead at stumps on the second day of the second Test.

In his first Test since 2019, Piedt’s well-organised assault proved too much for New Zealand’s batting, which was all out for 211 in Hamilton in response to South Africa’s 242.

A Proteas side that has only played 40 Test matches together has created the possibility of levelling the two-match series following a disastrous 281-run defeat in the opening Test at Mount Maunganui.

Although the Proteas have never lost a Test series against New Zealand, the majority of their first-choice players chose to participate in their own country’s Twenty20 league.

On a spin-friendly Seddon Park pitch, Piedt took career-best figures of 5-89 as seven wickets fell in the last session.

After lunch, the 33-year-old off-spinner—who was not required for the opening Test—captured the crucial wickets of Tom Latham for 40 and Kane Williamson for 43. New Zealand had made a solid start, reaching 75-1.

At the beginning of a tumultuous third session, Rachin Ravindra, who scored a double century in the opening Test, went on to Tshepo Moreki for 29 before Piedt took over.

He dismissed Glenn Phillips for four, Will Young for thirty-six, and Neil Wagner, the last man to fall, for thirty-seven balls after he had raced to thirty-three before being stumped, with good variety and decent spin.

Dane Paterson scored 3-39 with his precise seam bowling, demonstrating his effectiveness for the Proteas.

In the first over of the innings, he claimed his maiden wicket when ailing opener Devon Conway was caught behind without adding a run.

At 220-6 at the beginning of the day, the Proteas lost four wickets in eighteen overs as Will O’Rourke tore through the tail, finishing with figures of 4-59 in his debut.

Both of the overnight batsmen were bowled by O’Rourke; Shaun von Berg scored 38 on his debut and Ruan de Swardt 64.

Photo by Proteas Men’s Twitter page