Henry's seven shocks Proteas as NZ dominate opening day

South Africa endured a miserable final session as New Zealand reached the close on day one on 116/3 in their first innings, a lead of 21 runs over the visitors in the first test match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday.

After being skittled for just 95 in their first innings the Proteas needed to be at their best with the ball and in the field, but proceeded to drop four catches to let the Black Caps take complete control of the test.

The New Zealand chase got off to a steady start, before Tom Latham (16) was dropped on nine by Marco Jansen at gully off the bowling of Glenton Stuurman.

Jansen however came into the attack and removed Will Young (8) caught behind by Kyle Verreynne, while Latham was bowled by Duane Olivier as they slipped to 36/2.

A 75-run third-wicket partnership between Devon Conway (36) and Henry Nicholls (37no) however then powered the hosts into the lead, but it was the Proteas fielding again that let them down as Nicholls was dropped on five and 23.

Conway was then bowled off an Olivier inside edge just before the close of play, while nightwatchman Neil Wagner (1no) was dropped by Rassie van der Dussen at silly mid-off Olivier in the last over of the day.

Earlier in the day Matt Henry’s dream match continued as he dismantled the Proteas tail to help New Zealand bowl the visitors out for just 95 at tea.

Henry finished with incredible career-best figures of 7/23 in 15 overs, as he dominated with the ball from the start of the match.

"Obviously today's been a great day for us," Henry said, describing his own performance as "pretty surreal" returning the third-best bowling figures for New Zealand behind Richard Hadlee and Ajaz Patel.

It's only his 16th test in seven years but with Boult on paternity leave, the Christchurch-born Henry relished the chance to perform in front of his home crowd.

"It's not always easy," he said of the long gaps between tests.

"You try not to focus too much on those external things you cannot control and make sure I'm still in that mindset of trying to get better every time you get that opportunity to play for New Zealand."

After lunch, the Proteas resumed on 44/4 but were immediately set back as Temba Bavuma (7) tamely flicked Tim Southee to Conway at midwicket, with the Proteas in trouble on 52/5.

Verreynne (18) then joined Zubayr Hamza (25) and they set about the biggest partnership of the innings, of just 33-runs, as they frustrated the Black Caps bowlers for almost 14 overs.

However, Henry got the wicket of Hamza, who had worked hard but then played at a short and wide ball he should have left, getting a thin edge to keeper Tom Blundell, which saw the Proteas crash as they lost their last five wickets for just 10 runs.

Henry trapped Verreynne LBW and had Kagiso Rabada and Glenton Stuurman both caught by Blundell for ducks in a superb over, before Neil Wagner accounted for last man Duane Olivier (1).

At the start of play, New Zealand took full advantage of winning the toss in perfect bowling conditions as they reduced the Proteas to 44/4 at lunch.

Tom Latham won his first toss as captain and straight away sent the Proteas in to bat, and watched as his bowlers repaid his faith by running through the Proteas top order.

Henry was the destroyer-in-chief, bowling brilliantly to pick up three wickets in the session, while he was backed up well by Kyle Jamieson.

The innings started with Proteas skipper Dean Elgar (1) unable to survive the first two overs as he edged a Henry delivery that nipped away off the seam to Southee at third slip, who took a good low catch to get rid of him.

Aiden Markram (15) then joined Sarel Erwee (10) at the crease and they never really looked comfortable as they survived a few close calls before Jamieson got one to bounce and angle across Erwee, with him making a tame push only to edge it straight to Daryl Mitchell at first slip, with the score 20/2.

Van Dussen (8) and Markram could then only add 16 to the total before Henry returned to put the Black Caps well on top.

He first had Markram fending to keeper Blundell and then had Van der Dussen edging to Southee at third slip in the same over as the Proteas slipped to 36/4.

Bavuma and Hamza then battened down the hatches as they both scored four runs, off 27 and 30 balls respectively to make it to lunch without losing another wicket.

NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (capt), Will Young, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry

SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Zubayr Hamza, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Glenton Stuurman, Duanne Olivier