Kiwis ahead after Henry destroys South Africa

New Zealand’s Matt Henry bowls during day one of the first Test against South Africa in Christchurch yesterday. (AFP)

New Zealand’s Matt Henry made a memorable return to Test cricket in the opening match against South Africa and the 30-year-old said it was “surreal” to match a benchmark set by Richard Hadlee, who cheered him on at the Hagley Oval yesterday. Henry’s seven for 23 blew away South Africa who were bundled out for 95, their lowest against New Zealand, and put the home side in the box seat. It was a stunning display of pace bowling by Henry, playing his first Test in eight months only because Trent Boult is away on paternity leave. Only Ajaz Patel (10-119) and Hadlee (9-52) have returned better Test figures by a New Zealander. Hadlee, who was present at the ground to cheer Henry, had also claimed 7-23 against India in 1976. World Test champions New Zealand finished day one on 116-3 and are eyeing a decisive first-innings lead after Henry routed South Africa. The right-arm quick said his knowledge of the venue came in handy. This is Henry’s 15th Test since his 2007 debut against England. Being in and out of the squad had not helped, but Henry said his positive outlook had kept him motivated.

Scoreboard South Africa 1st innings D. Elgar c Southee b Henry 1 S. Erwee c Mitchell b Jamieson 10 A. Markram c Blundell b Henry 15 R. van der Dussen c Southee b Henry 8 T. Bavuma c Conway b Southee 7 Z. Hamza c Blundell b Henry 25 K. Verreynne lbw Henry 18 M. Jansen not out 2 K. Rabada c Blundell b Henry 0 G. Stuurman c Blundell b Henry 0 D. Olivier c Latham b Wagner 1 Extras (b4, lb4) 8 Total (all out; 49.2 overs) 95 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Elgar), 2-20 (Erwee), 3-36 (Markram), 4-37 (van der Dussen), 5-52 (Bavuma), 6-85 (Hamzar), 7-88 (Verreynne), 8-88 (Rabada), 9-88 (Stuurman), 10-95 (Olivier) Bowling: Southee 12-2-33-1, Henry 15-7-23-7, Jamieson 11-4-19-1, Wagner 9.2-2-11-1, de Grandhomme 2-1-1-0

New Zealand 1st inningsT. Latham b Olivier 15 W. Young c Verreynne b Jansen 8 D. Conway b Olivier 36 H. Nicholls not out 37 N. Wagner not out 2 Extras (b5, lb11, w1, nb1) 18 Total: (3 wickets; 39 overs) 116 Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Young), 2-36 (Latham), 3-111 (Conway) Bowling: Rabada 12-4-34-0 (1nb), Stuurman 11-5-19-0 (1w), Jansen 8-3-11-1, Olivier 8-1-36-2.