SCORECARD

In just his second international match for South Africa, Sarel Erwee finished on 108 off 221 in a fine performance.

Blunting Tom Latham's five-man pace attack alongside skipper Dean Elgar, the pair moved the tourists into a commanding position by the tea break, as the Proteas walked off at 238/3 at stumps.

It was a surprising move by Elgar to elect to bat after winning the toss, ignoring the historic trend at Hagley Oval and not shying away from the ferocity of New Zealand's bowling attack, who were at their rampaging best in the first Test last week.

Holding firm at both ends, Tom Latham's side were forced to change tack after little early reward, dropping a touch shorter with little movement in the air or off the surface.

The tactic almost brought the end of Elgar, though the gritty left-hander pushed through in trying periods alongside his partner.

Erwee was slower in his innings, though moved into his knock through a mix of shots and provided the majority of runs by the time brought up their century opening stand. It's the first opening stand of over a hundred by South Africa in Test cricket in ten years.

Elgar was brought undone by a Tim Southee delivery on 41, with the Black Caps quick the pick of the attack in what was a tough day for the hosts.

Latham's side were unable to make headway even with the scalp, as No.3 Aiden Markram ran with the baton. The right-hander took his time to gauge conditions, though accelerated through 32 of his first 39 runs coming in boundaries.

Markram accompanied Erwee through the nervous eighties and nineties, as the newcomer to the side avoided a nervous tea break by reaching three figures in the last over of the second session. Negotiating the short-ball tactics of Neil Wagner, Erwee pulled around the corner to bring up his hundred.

Resuming after tea at 163/1, the two set batters continued to make the scoreboard tick, steadily. Markram, in particular, milked boundaries off Jamieson's bowling as he moved closer to getting to his first fifty of the series.

Markram was on 39 when New Zealand missed an opportunity. The South Africa captain nicked an away swinger off Wagner but got away with it after falling a tad short at the second slip. However, Wagner got his reward in his next over. Markram threw away his wicket, a thick edge off the bat landed into the hands of Daryl Mitchell at the first slip.

One brought two for New Zealand, as two balls later, South Africa lost the prized scalp of Erwee. Henry had the centurion caught behind for a well-made 108.

The same over, the hosts missed two back-to-back opportunities to dismiss the new batter Temba Bavuma. Two big edges went flying through the slip cordon, gifting South Africa and Bavuma two lifelines and as many fours.

Bavuma along with Rassie van der Dussen made sure there weren't any more hiccups in the day, sharing an unbeaten 39-run stand. South Africa added 75 runs in the final session for the loss of two wickets, ending the opening day on 238/3, with Bavuma on 22* and van der Dussen keeping him company on 13*.