Vernon Philander

Hamilton: Vernon Philander produced the best figures of his remarkable early career for South Africa to wrap up the second Test against New Zealand by nine wickets inside three days, on Saturday.

The tourists needed just 20 overs to comfortably reach the 101-run target in Hamilton, after the New Zealand second innings crumbled under Philander’s brilliant swing bowling to be all out for 168.

Skipper Graeme Smith was not out 55 with Hashim Amla on 46 as South Africa made 103-1. Smith ended the one-sided match at Seddon Park with a boundary off Rob Nicol.

But the big win was set up by the 26-year-old Philander.

Playing in only his sixth Test, he produced the best figures of his brief career of six for 44 to give him match figures of ten for 114 and the Man of the Match award.

He now boasts Test career statistics of five five-wicket hauls and a total of 45 wickets.

New Zealand resumed the day at 65 for four, three runs in arrears, with Kane Williamson and Daniel Vettori (21) forging a dogged stand at the crease.

Williamson took 41 balls to advance from his overnight 41 to make his half-century and Vettori was just as watchful as Philander and Dale Steyn swung the ball.

The hosts cautiously advanced the score to 99 before captain Smith brought in Jacques Kallis, who broke the partnership with a short ball which reared up to take Vettori on the gloves and Mark Boucher took the simplest of catches.

Philander then returned to wrap up the innings with an outstanding spell of bowling in which he took four for 14 in the space of 18 balls.

He started with the removal of Kruger van Wyk (20) just before lunch and removed New Zealand’s anchor Williamson for 77 immediately after the break.

Mark Gillespie belted two fours and a six off Philander in one over before he was caught behind and the rampaging South African bowled Chris Martin for a duck to wrap up the Black Caps innings for 168, to go with their first innings 185.