Recalled South African spinner Dane Piedt is eyeing a "famous, famous win" after claiming five New Zealand wickets Wednesday to give the understrength tourists a 31-run lead at stumps on the second day of the second Test.
New Zealand's batting succumbed to a disciplined attack led by Piedt, in his first Test since 2019, to be all out for 211 in response to South Africa's 242 in Hamilton.
A Proteas team with just 40 Test caps between them have opened up the prospect of squaring the two-match series after crashing to a 281-run loss in the first Test at Mount Maunganui.
The Proteas have never lost a Test series to New Zealand, but most of their first-choice players have stayed home for a domestic Twenty20 competition.
Piedt, who took career-best figures of 5-89 on a spin-friendly Seddon Park pitch, said his unheralded team had the self-belief to go on and win.
"It has been a tough tour but we have a great camaraderie inside that dressing room," he said.
"We're quite open and honest with one another and hopefully those type of things will come through now.
"That's in the South African DNA and we'll fight as hard as we can now to get a famous, famous Test win."
The 33-year-old off-spinner, not needed for the first Test, claimed the key wickets of Kane Williamson for 43 and Tom Latham for 40 after lunch, with New Zealand having started soundly to reach 75-1.
Rachin Ravindra, who hit a double century in the first Test, played on to Tshepo Moreki for 29 at the start of a hectic third session in which seven wickets tumbled.
Using good variation and finding decent turn, he removed Glenn Phillips for four and Will Young for 36, along with the last wicket to fall of Neil Wagner, who had raced to 33 off 27 balls before he was stumped.
Dane Paterson was also effective for the Proteas, with his accurate seam bowling earning figures of 3-39.
His first wicket came in the opening over of the innings when struggling opener Devon Conway was caught behind without scoring.
Latham said the tricky batting conditions meant it was crucial New Zealand's bowlers strike quickly on day three.
"Dane (Piedt) showed on that wicket it's obviously taking a lot of turn so from our point of view, the game's in the balance," Latham said.
"Only 30 ahead, it's going to an important first couple of sessions for us tomorrow. Hopefully we can take few lessons from how South Africa bowled."
The Proteas started day two at 220-6 but lost their last four wickets in just 8.2 overs as Will O'Rourke tore through the tail to finish with figures of 4-59 on debut.
O'Rourke bowled both of the overnight batsmen, with Shaun von Berg reaching 38 on debut and Ruan de Swardt 64.
