South Africa wasted a sure start in tricky conditions to slump to 191 for seven at stumps on the first day of the first test against New Zealand at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.

Too many of the South African batsmen rinsed their hands of the responsibility of batting all day – on a shortened day of 59 overs – instead settling for all-too-brief displays of authority that did not wrest the advantage away from a New Zealand side that was typically determined and astute.

Captain Graeme Smith dominated the first session after South Africa had lost the toss and been sent in to bat two hours before tea, rain having washed out the entire morning session, and had reached tea on 53 not out from just 69 balls.

The left-hander profited from some confused lines of attack from the New Zealand bowlers, but his team never recovered from the rash shot he played in the first over after the break as the home side claimed six wickets from 33 overs to end the day in charge.

Trent Boult, the left-arm seamer, had claimed the first wicket of the day when he trapped Alviro Petersen lbw for 11, but it was the only success for New Zealand in a mediocre first session that saw Smith and Hashim Amla take their team through to the interval on 86 for one.

The drama started almost immediately after the break as Chris Martin claimed three wickets in four balls to send South Africa crashing to 90 for four.

Smith was the first to fall, failing to add to his score at tea. Martin beat Smith with a couple of fine away-swingers outside off stump and then, when he dished up a wide half-volley, Smith’s instinctive reaction was to lash out and try and impose himself again.

But the ball was so wide and going further away that Smith could not hit it cleanly, instead offering a straightforward catch to Rob Nicol at a shortish cover.

Martin began his next over in brilliant fashion as he whistled a delivery on to the shoulder of a squared-up Jacques Kallis’s bat, Ross Taylor diving to his left at first slip to take a sharp catch as the ball flew between him and wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk.

Kallis being dismissed for a duck should have caused some alarm in the complacent South African camp, but AB de Villiers was slow to react to his first delivery, not moving his feet and playing all around a delivery that jagged back into him from Martin.

Unfortunately for New Zealand, while Amla and Jacques Rudolph were battling to see off Martin at the one end, they made merry against the undisciplined bowling of Tim Southee and Boult at the other.

SLAP-DASH CRICKET

The overcast skies under which South Africa had been sent in were beginning to clear though and, counter-intuitively, conditions became more sporty for the bowlers as the day warmed up.

One of the most rivetting contests of the day was between veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and Amla.

The Bearded Wonder had played some typically thrilling strokes in his 62, which included eight fours and a six off Vettori, but you always sensed he was trying to over-attack the canny former New Zealand captain.

Amla’s concentration lapsed – like so many of his teammates – as he tried to cut the fourth ball after the drinks break and edged Vettori, Van Wyk gloving the ball to slip Taylor.

South Africa’s slap-dash cricket was particularly prevalent in their running between the wickets, where they took many ill-judged risks and a run out was always on the cards.

It finally came in the 44th over with the demise of Mark Boucher, who did not get much of a chance to silence his critics as he hit his first ball for four and was run out off his second.

A crazy single to backward point and the quick reactions of Doug Bracewell enabled the South African-born Van Wyk, who left for New Zealand as he found his career blocked by Boucher, to get his name on the scorecard in his debut test and, coincidentally, his 100th first-class match.

Van Wyk, a contemporary of Rudolph’s at Affies and the Titans, showed slick glovework to gather Bracewell’s throw on the bounce and quickly break the stumps to catch Boucher just short of his ground.

Bracewell also always seemed to be doing something with the ball and gained his reward when he got Dale Steyn out for nine, a fine away-swinger, that also bounced more than expected, being edged to second slip, where it burst through Martin Guptill’s hands but went to Taylor at first slip, very nearly slipping through his grasp as well.

NO-BALL WICKET

Bracewell could easily have had Rudolph out on 32 in his previous over, seemingly trapping the left-hander plumb lbw. But the intervention of the third umpire, after the on-field umpire had refused the appeal, led to the exposé that the bustling seamer had over-stepped the line and bowled a no-ball.

Rudolph (46*) and Vernon Philander (4* off 37 balls) then steered South Africa to stumps in sombre fashion, a stark contrast to the shot-making parties that the top-order seemed to be enjoying.

Rudolph has looked composed and in the proper test cricket frame of mind of wearing down the bowlers, while Philander won many admirers for his restraint and dogged defence late in the day.

Martin was the best of the New Zealand bowlers with three for 34 in 14 overs, but the important work done by Vettori (15-4-31-1) and Bracewell (14-2-39-1) in stemming the run-flow and frustrating the batsmen should not be underestimated.

The South Africans have much work to do to prevent the impression that they have once again badly underestimated the fighting qualities of seemingly inferior opposition.

New Zealand staged an outstanding fightback in the post-tea session to reduce South Africa to 191 for seven at stumps on the first day of the first test at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.

49th over – WICKET – More good bowling by Doug Bracewell this time gets its reward. Dale Steyn (9) pushes at an away-swinger that also bounces more than expected, edging a catch to second slip. But Martin Guptill punches the chance, only for Ross Taylor at first slip to juggle the rebound before eventually hanging on to the chance!

47th over – Jacques Rudolph has a reprieve on 32 as Bracewell swings the ball back into the left-hander, the lbw appeal is turned down but replays show it was plumb. But the review is unsuccessful because the replay also shows Bracewell has bowled a no-ball!

45th over – Another crazy run by South Africa but this time they get the unjust reward of five runs. Steyn pushed Bracewell just in front of square on the off side and called for the run. Tim Southee’s throw was over the stumps as Rudolph dived desperately, and it beat the back-up fielder and ran to the boundary.

44th over – WICKET – South Africa have been dicing with death with their stupid running between the wickets all day and now they pay the price. Rudolph dabs Daniel Vettori to backward point, Bracewell moves quickly to his right and also gets his throw in quickly. Wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk then produces sharp glovework to gather the ball on the bounce and quickly break the stumps, catching Mark Boucher (4) short of the crease.

42nd over – WICKET – Four balls after the drinks break and Hashim Amla suffers a lapse in concentration. He tries to cut left-arm spinner Vettori, there is an extra bounce, and Amla edges the ball into wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk’s gloves, from where it loops to Taylor at slip. Amla played some great shots in his 62, with eight fours and a six, but would have wanted more! Mark Boucher comes in and is down the pitch to his second ball, flicking Vettori on the full through midwicket for four.

41st over – Amla very nearly gives Doug Bracewell a return catch, but the third umpire confirms the ball bounced just in front of the bowler’s fingers. Bracewell follows up with a poor delivery though, a long-hop outside off stump, and Amla leans back and it clatters through cover-point for four.

38th over – Trent Boult just misses the yorker and Rudolph clips the low full toss through midwicket for four. Amla then completes a 90-ball half-century as he emphatically drives a half-volley through the covers for his sixth four. Amla celebrates by repeating the stroke off the next delivery.

37th over – Amla edges Chris Martin wide of third slip for four, which encourages the pace bowler to pitch the next ball up. Amla strides forward and punches the ball impressively through the covers for four.

36th over – Boult replaces the disappointing Tim Southee, but bowls too short outside off stump and Rudolph is quickly on to the cut, with great power, and the pull shot to pick up two boundaries in the over.

34th over – Southee is releasing the pressure at the other end: A full ball outside off stump with some width is lashed through cover-point for four by Amla. Southee ends the over by also offering Rudolph width, and is slapped away for four more runs.

30th over – Southee strays on to leg stump and Amla flicks the ball beautifully through midwicket for four.

29th over – Martin turns the innings on its head with a sensational burst of three wickets in four balls! WICKET – Martin produces a beauty with the first ball of the over to remove Jacques Kallis for a duck. Kallis is squared up and there is extra bounce, his prod at the ball sending an edge flying to first slip, where Ross Taylor dives to his left to take a super catch. WICKET – AB de Villiers is trapped lbw first ball by Martin, who jags a delivery back into the batsman, who is stuck in the crease and wafts at the ball rather aimlessly.

28th over – Southee bowls too short and a touch wide and Amla places his square-cut to perfection to collect his first four.

27th over – A great first over after tea by Martin brings reward. WICKET – Martin beats Graeme Smith a couple of times outside off stump and the irritated South African captain then reaches for a drive at a wide delivery, hitting the ball straight to Rob Nicol at a shortish cover. Smith showed plenty of determination in his two hours at the crease for 53 off 74 balls, but his team needed more from him.

Graeme Smith was eager to impose himself on the match as he steered South Africa to 86 for one at tea on the first day of the first test against New Zealand at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.

25th over – South Africa have had to dig in for the last half-hour or so as New Zealand’s bowlers clawed the run-rate back, but Smith now completes a determined half-century off 66 balls as he flicks a full ball from Tim Southee that is just outside off stump, through midwicket with great timing for four.

22nd over – Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has troubled Hashim Amla, who is determined to do something about it. Amla charges down the wicket, is nowhere near the pitch of the ball, but reaches for the drive and gets it over mid-on for six!

12th over – A commanding stroke by Smith as he gets confidently on to the front foot and drives a fullish delivery from left-armer Trent Boult with the angle, from just outside off stump and in front of midwicket for four super runs.

10th over – WICKET – Alviro Petersen tries to drive a full ball from Boult wide of mid-on, misses and is given out lbw for 11 after New Zealand call for a review of umpire Aleem Dar’s original not out decision. Only an inside-edge could have saved Petersen, but alas, there wasn’t one. He was driving so well, perhaps he was lulled into a false sense of security …

9th over – Too full from Chris Martin and Petersen drives beautifully straight down the ground for four.

8th over – And Boult starts his second over poorly with a half-volley outside off stump, which Smith punches through mid-on for four.

6th over – Left-arm seamer Boult is brought on in an early bowling change, but it doesn’t go well as he concedes 11 runs in the over. His second ball is too short and Smith pulls well for his second boundary, while his last delivery is over-pitched and pushed crisply straight down the ground for four by Petersen.

3rd over – Martin is struggling early on to bowl a consistent line and, having pitched the ball outside leg stump, Smith can comfortably clip the ball of his wickets, down to fine leg for the first boundary of the test.