Proteas triumph at Newlands

Cape Town - The powerful Proteas bowling attack cleaned up New Zealand’s tail to give South Africa an innings and 27-run victory over the visitors before tea on the third day of the first Test at Newlands on Friday.

In a courageous batting effort by New Zealand, they were eventually bowled out for 275 in their second innings and would rue their pitiful performance in the first, where they were dismissed for 45.

Dale Steyn took three wickets while Vernon Philander and Jacques Kallis took two apiece

Full scorecard

Video highlights: SA v New Zealand, first Test, day 3

Morne Morkel and Robin Peterson took the remaining two wickets.

After his phenomenal five-for-seven on the first morning - a feat which won him Man of the Match - Philander was wicketless in New Zealand’s second innings until he changed to the Kelvin Grove End and put paid to BJ Watling after lunch.

The South African-born Watling was the stumbling block and when he was eventually caught by Graeme Smith at first slip for 42, it was all over bar the shouting.

A maiden Test century by Dean Brownlie, together with Watling’s contribution, delayed the inevitable result, and prolonged the match to an unexpected afternoon session.

Having resisted the South African attack all morning, it was not until Morkel took the new ball just before lunch, that Brownlie picked out Peterson at deep point and gave him an easy catch.

He had scored 109 runs off 186 balls including 13 fours and two sixes.

It was the only wicket to fall in the morning session after the Kiwis had appeared so composed while adding 63 runs to their overnight score.

Resuming on 169 for four, Brownlie and Watling, who boast only 15 Tests between them before this one, shared a vital, fifth-wicket stand of 74 with their 50 coming off 155 balls, including four fours.

Brownlie, playing in only his eighth Test, went to his hundred off 160 balls, with both his sixes coming while he was in the nervous nineties.

On 92, he whacked Peterson over deep mid-wicket to move to 98 and, in the spinner’s next over, Brownlie danced down the pitch to drive the ball effortlessly over long-off to bring up the milestone - with another six.

Dropped twice on 23, both times in the gully, by Dean Elgar and Alviro Petersen, off the bowling of Steyn and Philander, respectively, he went to his 50 at virtually a run a ball, and played some magnificent shots during his innings.

The second and final Test starts in Port Elizabeth on Friday, January 11.