South Africa held on to a strong position despite a top-order batting collapse in their second innings on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand on Monday. Still, Dale Steyn and Vermon Philander should nearly have South Africa at victory by the close of play.
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New Zealand went into the tea break with the score at 95 for five.
Nicholls was the last man to be dismissed, giving Steyn his 26th five-wicket haul in Tests.
Nicholls even handled Steyn relatively comfortably during a disciplined nine-over opening spell where he was occasionally unplayable while taking 3-12.
South Africa declared their second innings after an hour’s play on 132 for seven, setting New Zealand an nearly impossible target of 400 on a pitch with uneven bounce and widening cracks that was proving increasingly treacherous for batsmen.
However, New Zealand soon ran out of options as the South African pacers took nine overs to pick the last four wickets, bowling New Zealand out for 195 runs.
Steyn bowled Tom Latham with the first ball of the final innings, then had Lathams fellow opener, Martin Guptill, caught at first slip, also for a first ball duck, off the final ball of the over.
Veteran quick Dale Steyn, a regular tormentor of the Kiwis, took 5-33 to lop the top off the batting order and skipper Faf du Plessis says he felt his team played nearly the flawless game.
Much then depended on New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Taylor, his most experienced teammate.
Resuming at 105-6, the hosts added just 27 for the loss of one wicket from their overnight score, declaring on 132-7 with a lead of 399.
The fortunes of Du Plessis have changed dramatically since being dropped from the side for the fourth match against England at this ground in January, and, after supporting JP Duminy on day one, he took centre stage by ending a 20-month wait for his fifth hundred in the longest format with an unbeaten 112.
If there was a positive for New Zealand it was the application of Henry Nicholls who, in his sixth test, made 76 from 140 balls as he attempts to establish himself as the No.5 following Brendon McCullum’s retirement.
“I think we nearly played the flawless test”, South African captain Faf du Plessis responded.
“That first innings certainly put us on the back foot and the class of their bowling attack certainly showed”. He set off for a run, was sent back by Williamson and was beaten by a direct hit from Temba Bavuma.
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Williamson admitted his bowlers were too short on the first day, although he did have some criticism of the pitch after watching it deteriorate early in the match.
