NZ and South Africa Test evenly poised

New Zealand have moved to 3-177 in response to South Africa's 308 at stumps on day two of their first Test but have lost senior batsman Ross Taylor to injury.

NZ's Trent Boult (L) is congratulated by teammate Jimmy Neesham

New Zealand have bowled out South Africa for 208 in the first cricket Test in Dunedin. (AAP)

New Zealand have fought back well in the first cricket Test against South Africa but have lost senior batsman Ross Taylor to what appears to be a series-ending injury.

Taylor limped off Dunedin's University Oval on Thursday afternoon with a calf tear.

He was on eight when he appeared to hurt his right leg while running between wickets and he appears in doubt for the rest of the match and series.

An update on his condition is expected later in the day.

At stumps the hosts were 3-177, 131 runs behind South Africa's first innings of 308.

Kane Williamson was 78 not out and night watchman Jeetan Patel nine.

Williamson showed his class against the South African attack and three of his 11 boundaries came in one Kasigo Rabada over to bring up his 26th Test fifty.

However, three times he had outside edges fall short of first slip and not long before stumps he survived a tight run-out chance when Henry Nicholls sent him back from attempting a third run.

Earlier Williamson and Jeet Raval (52) set a NZ second-wicket partnership record of 102 against South Africa, beating the previous best of 90 by Matt Horne and Nathan Astle in February 1999 in Auckland.

They scored at a good rate of more than 3.5 runs an over before Raval's third Test fifty came to an end when he needlessly clipped Maharaj to Dean Elgar at midwicket.

Nicholls (12) went not long before the close of play, brilliantly caught at first slip by a quick-reacting Hashim Amla.

There was much anticipation about how Vernon Philander would bowl on the slow pitch and he didn't disappoint.

Before this match he had taken 32 Black Caps wickets at an average of 15.33, most of them taken on New Zealand soil.

The right-armer, bowling seam upright, was able to get movement that eluded the home bowlers.

In the sixth over of the New Zealand innings his first ball from around the wicket to Tom Latham took the outside edge and the opener was gone for 10.

Philander returned figures of 1-37 with spinner Keshrav Maharaj taking 2-57.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand dismissed South Africa just after lunch.

Opener Dean Elgar top scored for the tourists with 140 and there were contributions from Temba Bavuma (64) and Faf du Plessis (52).

For New Zealand, Trent Boult was the best of the bowlers with 4-64, Neil Wagner 3-88, Patel 2-85, and Jimmy Neesham 1-34.


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Source: AAP


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