New Zealand suffered a bigger defeat than ever before in terms of runs as South Africa thrashed them by 358 runs in the first test at Liberty Life Wanderers on Sunday.
Having struggled through the first session losing three wickets, New Zealand resumed after lunch on 148 for six and opening bowler Dale Steyn picked up two more wickets to seal the deal nine overs into the second session as the Kiwis finished on 172 for nine, Shane Bond being unable to bat due to an abdominal tear.
Another fine performance by Steyn saw him finish with five for 59 and ten for 93 in the match, his maiden ten-wicket haul.
New Zealand, who managed just 118 in the first innings, were clearly well below their best at the Wanderers and their woes were increased by a string of injuries.
Andre Nel may not have picked up a wicket on the final day but it was his aggression and steep bounce that set the tone for a South African bowling performance that made it clear they were hunting a record win.
Nel peppered the already battered and bruised Kiwis with body blows and, Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori apart, they were quickly in retreat.
Oram scored 40 in over two hours at the crease, but his dismissal in the fourth over after lunch left South Africa with just the tail in front of them.
Oram tried to advance on spinner Paul Harris and drive him over the top, but his strained hamstring refused to cooperate and he ended up skying a catch to Nel at a wide deep mid-on.
Life was tough for the tail against a fired-up Steyn looking for another five-fer and he removed Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin for ducks in successive overs to seal a wonderful victory for South Africa early in the afternoon.
Hashim Amla showed his mettle at short-leg as he clung on to the rebound from O'Brien's firm push off his pads, having flung the ball upwards in an impressive display of reflexes.
Martin can barely hold a bat and he survived just one ball from Steyn before his stumps were sent cartwheeling and South Africa were able to celebrate.
Vettori finished on 46 not out off 58 balls, but there was only so much the captain could do as the batting collapsed around him.
Earlier, Oram and Brendon McCullum found a way to survive on the Wanderers pitch as they took New Zealand to 148 for six at lunch.
But none of their compatriots had cracked the code as New Zealand resumed on 57 for three and promptly crashed to 109 for six, the pace and fire of Steyn and Nel causing waves of panic through their batting line-up.
South Africa's practice of keeping to a line outside off stump paid off as McCullum (26) and Michael Papps (five) were not able to resist playing at deliveries they could have left.
McCullum, who was again fortunate not to be given out leg-before, could not get over a sharp Steyn lifter and steered a catch to gully, while Papps, who made just two in the first innings, will be under pressure to keep his place in the side after he hung his bat out to Jacques Kallis's first delivery and was caught at second slip.
Steyn had wasted no time taking his first wicket of the day when Scott Styris (16) gloved a lifter down leg nine balls into the day's action.
South Africa - Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn.
New Zealand - Michael Papps, Craig Cumming, Stephen Fleming, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.
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