<p> A battling Kane Williamson ensured New Zealand took the second-day honours despite a crippling calf injury to senior batsman Ross Taylor in the first cricket Test against South Africa on Thursday.<br /><br />Williamson was not out 78 as he propped up the innings with nightwatchman Jeetan Patel on nine, taking New Zealand to 177 for three in reply to South Africa’s 308.<br /><br />Taylor was on eight when he limped from the field during a torrid period in which he was also hit on the helmet by a fired-up Morne Morkel, who sent down a lively 10 overs for 26 in his comeback from a serious back injury.<br /><br />New Zealand wrapped up the South African innings five overs after lunch, with the last six wickets falling for only 56 runs.<br /><br />It was a rapid end to an innings where the wicket offered little for the bowlers and Dean Elgar, with his 140, had the tourists well placed at 252 for four.<br /><br />By tea, the Kiwis were 59 for one and they added a further 118 for two wickets, plus the loss of the injured Taylor.<br /><br />South Africa removed Tom Latham early, caught behind off Vern Philander for 10, and New Zealand were 15 for one.<br /><br />But Williamson and Jeet Raval sparked the innings with a 102-run stand, a record second-wicket partnership for the Kiwis against South Africa. <br /><br />score board<br /><br />South Africa (I innings, O/n: 229/4):<br />Cook lbw Boult 3<br />Elgar c Watling by Wagner 140<br />Amla b Wagner 1<br />Duminy c Taylor b Wagner 1<br />du Plessis c Boult b Neesham 52<br />Bavuma c Watling b Boult 64<br />de Kock c Wagner b Patel 10<br />Philander b Boult 21<br />Maharaj c Neesham b Boult 5<br />Rabada b Patel 4<br />Morkel (not out) 0<br />Extras: (B-4, LB-1, W-2) 7<br />Total: (all out in 122.4 overs) 308<br />Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-20, 3-22, 4-148, 5-252, 6-265, 7-279, 8-298, 9-308. <br />Bowling: Boult 32.4-12-64-4, Wagner 31-8-88-3, Patel 33-12-85-2, Santner 18-5-32-0, Neesham 8-2-34-1<br />New Zealand (I Innings):<br />Latham c de Kock b Philander 10<br />Raval c Elgar b Maharaj 52<br />Williamson (batting) 78<br />Taylor (rtd hurt) 8<br />Nicholls c Amla b Maharaj 12<br />Patel (batting) 9<br />Extras: (LB-6, NB-2) 8<br />Total: (for 3 wickets in 55 overs) 177<br />Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-117, 3-165<br />Bowling: Rabada 14-3-46-0, Philander 14-4-37-1, Morkel 10-3-26-0, Maharaj 16-3-57-2, Duminy 1-0-5-0.</p>
<p> A battling Kane Williamson ensured New Zealand took the second-day honours despite a crippling calf injury to senior batsman Ross Taylor in the first cricket Test against South Africa on Thursday.<br /><br />Williamson was not out 78 as he propped up the innings with nightwatchman Jeetan Patel on nine, taking New Zealand to 177 for three in reply to South Africa’s 308.<br /><br />Taylor was on eight when he limped from the field during a torrid period in which he was also hit on the helmet by a fired-up Morne Morkel, who sent down a lively 10 overs for 26 in his comeback from a serious back injury.<br /><br />New Zealand wrapped up the South African innings five overs after lunch, with the last six wickets falling for only 56 runs.<br /><br />It was a rapid end to an innings where the wicket offered little for the bowlers and Dean Elgar, with his 140, had the tourists well placed at 252 for four.<br /><br />By tea, the Kiwis were 59 for one and they added a further 118 for two wickets, plus the loss of the injured Taylor.<br /><br />South Africa removed Tom Latham early, caught behind off Vern Philander for 10, and New Zealand were 15 for one.<br /><br />But Williamson and Jeet Raval sparked the innings with a 102-run stand, a record second-wicket partnership for the Kiwis against South Africa. <br /><br />score board<br /><br />South Africa (I innings, O/n: 229/4):<br />Cook lbw Boult 3<br />Elgar c Watling by Wagner 140<br />Amla b Wagner 1<br />Duminy c Taylor b Wagner 1<br />du Plessis c Boult b Neesham 52<br />Bavuma c Watling b Boult 64<br />de Kock c Wagner b Patel 10<br />Philander b Boult 21<br />Maharaj c Neesham b Boult 5<br />Rabada b Patel 4<br />Morkel (not out) 0<br />Extras: (B-4, LB-1, W-2) 7<br />Total: (all out in 122.4 overs) 308<br />Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-20, 3-22, 4-148, 5-252, 6-265, 7-279, 8-298, 9-308. <br />Bowling: Boult 32.4-12-64-4, Wagner 31-8-88-3, Patel 33-12-85-2, Santner 18-5-32-0, Neesham 8-2-34-1<br />New Zealand (I Innings):<br />Latham c de Kock b Philander 10<br />Raval c Elgar b Maharaj 52<br />Williamson (batting) 78<br />Taylor (rtd hurt) 8<br />Nicholls c Amla b Maharaj 12<br />Patel (batting) 9<br />Extras: (LB-6, NB-2) 8<br />Total: (for 3 wickets in 55 overs) 177<br />Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-117, 3-165<br />Bowling: Rabada 14-3-46-0, Philander 14-4-37-1, Morkel 10-3-26-0, Maharaj 16-3-57-2, Duminy 1-0-5-0.</p>