<p> South African captain Faf du Plessis hailed an "impossible" victory after the Proteas recovered from a desperate situation to win the second Test against New Zealand by eight wickets in Wellington today.<br /><br />Keshav Maharaj took a career best six wickets as New Zealand crumpled in their second innings and needed just 25 overs to reach the modest 81 to win.<br /><br />Just five sessions after South Africa were on the ropes they found themselves with an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the series with one Test to play.<br /><br />New Zealand captain Kane Williamson branded the change in fortunes and his side's second innings capitulation when they were out for 171, as a "very, very poor" effort.<br /><br />But du Plessis said the result was testimony to the determination of the South Africans.<br /><br />"It's happened a few times this season where we've been in impossible situations," he said.<br /><br />"At lunchtime yesterday, 90 for six, it's not too long ago, and here we are.<br />"We've somehow found this ability to have a lot of faith in our batting line up or whatever, for guys in the team to stand up when there's a pressure situation."<br /><br />From being 94 for six before lunch on Friday, South Africa rallied to be all out for 359 to take a 91-run lead into the second innings.<br /><br />On a flattening track and with nearly three days remaining, there was time for New Zealand to mount a strong comeback.<br /><br />Instead their second innings was done in 63.2 overs with a career best 80 by Jeet Raval and a 65-run partnership between Raval and BJ Watling (29) the only sign of resistance.<br /><br />Raval's dismissal signalled the beginning of the end as the last five wickets fell for 16 runs.<br /><br />Faced with the guile of Maharaj's left-arm spin and the seam and bounce of Morne Morkel New Zealand struggled through their second innings.<br /><br />Maharaj finished with six for 40, the best figures and second five-wicket haul in his fledgling six-Test career while Morkel took the top off the New Zealand innings, including the key wicket of Kane Williamson, to have three for 50.<br /><br />Du Plessis admitted to being "surprised" because there was not a lot of spin in the wicket.<br /><br />"I thought both spinners this Test match bowled incredibly well. Their consistency in their areas, the New Zealand batsmen couldn't get way."<br /><br />New Zealand said before the Test they did not particularly want a green wicket given the high quality of the South African pace attack. <br /></p>
<p> South African captain Faf du Plessis hailed an "impossible" victory after the Proteas recovered from a desperate situation to win the second Test against New Zealand by eight wickets in Wellington today.<br /><br />Keshav Maharaj took a career best six wickets as New Zealand crumpled in their second innings and needed just 25 overs to reach the modest 81 to win.<br /><br />Just five sessions after South Africa were on the ropes they found themselves with an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the series with one Test to play.<br /><br />New Zealand captain Kane Williamson branded the change in fortunes and his side's second innings capitulation when they were out for 171, as a "very, very poor" effort.<br /><br />But du Plessis said the result was testimony to the determination of the South Africans.<br /><br />"It's happened a few times this season where we've been in impossible situations," he said.<br /><br />"At lunchtime yesterday, 90 for six, it's not too long ago, and here we are.<br />"We've somehow found this ability to have a lot of faith in our batting line up or whatever, for guys in the team to stand up when there's a pressure situation."<br /><br />From being 94 for six before lunch on Friday, South Africa rallied to be all out for 359 to take a 91-run lead into the second innings.<br /><br />On a flattening track and with nearly three days remaining, there was time for New Zealand to mount a strong comeback.<br /><br />Instead their second innings was done in 63.2 overs with a career best 80 by Jeet Raval and a 65-run partnership between Raval and BJ Watling (29) the only sign of resistance.<br /><br />Raval's dismissal signalled the beginning of the end as the last five wickets fell for 16 runs.<br /><br />Faced with the guile of Maharaj's left-arm spin and the seam and bounce of Morne Morkel New Zealand struggled through their second innings.<br /><br />Maharaj finished with six for 40, the best figures and second five-wicket haul in his fledgling six-Test career while Morkel took the top off the New Zealand innings, including the key wicket of Kane Williamson, to have three for 50.<br /><br />Du Plessis admitted to being "surprised" because there was not a lot of spin in the wicket.<br /><br />"I thought both spinners this Test match bowled incredibly well. Their consistency in their areas, the New Zealand batsmen couldn't get way."<br /><br />New Zealand said before the Test they did not particularly want a green wicket given the high quality of the South African pace attack. <br /></p>