Two successive series defeats, the loss of their captain and a dramatic drop from the top of the test rankings leaves South Africa vulnerable as they prepare to host New Zealand in a two-match encounter.
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Officials and ground staff battled for several hours to dry out the outer reaches of the Kingsmead field, but to no avail.
After rain delayed the start of play, Southee took the wicket of Dale Steyn with the final ball of the second over of the day.
South Africa made 236 for eight before bad light brought an end to an overcast day played under floodlights nearly from the start.
Unfortunately for Steyn and his fellow bowlers, they walked off at lunchtime and didn’t return after reducing New Zealand to 2-15 on the second day of the first Test.
“We’re happy with where we are”, said left-arm pace bowler Neil Wagner, who finished with three for 47.
Trent Boult bowled a superb opening spell of one for eight in eight overs as South Africa struggled to 41 for two.
It was just the start that South Africa needed with the ball after being bowled out for an underwhelming total. “We got the ball to do just enough”.
New Zealand wobbled to lunch‚ which came five minutes early because of bad light‚ on 15/2 having dismissed SA for 263.
Philander, who obliterated New Zealand with 5-7 in the “45” test victory at Cape Town during January 2013, is playing only his fourth test in 20 months and Steyn has missed six of South Africa’s last eight tests with groin and shoulder injuries.
Steyn and Vernon Philander hit their lines and lengths nearly immediately and beat the bat on several occasions as New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham struggled to get going against the swinging ball.
Bowling: Steyn 6-4-3-2; Philander 6-1-12-0.
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The big problem for the Proteas was that they kept on losing wickets in pairs and, when they did get a partnership going, they were not able to turn it into something really substantial.
