Cruising along at 133 for two - all out 52 runs later
What is it with New Zealand and horrendous test batting slumps?
At Seddon Park yesterday, New Zealand tossed away a promising position, handed South Africa the initiative and have a substantial task to get back in the second test.
That said, two wickets before stumps from Chris Martin - one to a terrific one-handed catch low to his right off an inside edge by wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk - gave some heart.
South Africa will resume their first innings at 27 for two today, after benefiting from one of those collapses which are sprinkled through New Zealand's test history, and will recognise that the best batting conditions will be over the next two days.
Call yesterday the Tumble at the 'Tron.
Just when you'd like to think they have got beyond those ghastly patches, up springs another to remind you that when it comes to New Zealand's test batting, another fine mess is waiting just around the corner, popping up like a mischievous jack-in-the-box cackling "Gotcha!".
This time, New Zealand, from 133 for two, having been sent in, went head over heels, losing five for none in 20 balls.
Only some spirited, if unorthodox hitting from the recalled Mark Gillespie got New Zealand to 185. His shuffle towards square leg suggested he was in for a good time if not a long time, and he got clunked a hard blow on his forearm from quick Dale Steyn for his trouble.
The pain in this particular collapse, however, came from the realisation it didn't come on a fiery pitch, or one offering bamboozling turn.
The five wickets fell to Steyn and the remarkable Vernon Philander, who has taken at least four wickets in a test innings six times and is only halfway through his sixth test.
They were hostile but the South Africans seemed as surprised as anyone else at the magnitude of this crash.
And it all came after New Zealand, sent in on a greenish strip favouring seam bowling, had done a pile of conscientious work, both before and after a two-hour break for light drizzle.
Openers Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill - playing on for the second time in three innings - were gone in just over an hour, but Brendon McCullum and captain Ross Taylor scrapped hard and well.
McCullum took blows on his knuckles and right wrist on his way to a gritty half century with a six pulled behind square leg. Taylor was closing in on his when chaos took hold.
McCullum hooked Steyn straight to deep square leg; Taylor pushed hard off the back foot and edge to first slip; Kane Williamson got a sharp lifter, Dan Vettori was bowled between bat and pad and Doug Bracewell edged a straight one. 133 for two had become 133 for seven.
You could only imagine the scrambling for pads and protectors as the carnage seemed to have no end.
Steyn had his tail up after a modest return in the first test, while Philander keeps banging away in the right places.
"He puts the ball in good areas and just asks tough questions, as good international bowlers do," McCullum said of Philander.
Martin's efforts at the end gave some heart to New Zealand. But they realise this is a pitch on which good batsmen will prosper today and tomorrow, if they get settled and play with some care. Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and co have written a chapter in that particular book.
Still this game is well advanced. New Zealand need to have their plans in place, stick to them and grab their opportunities.
They are still in the contest, but nowhere near where they were promising to be in mid-afternoon.
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