(REUTERS) – The tail wagged before Kagiso Rabada rolled New Zealand’s top order as South Africa asserted themselves on the second day of the second Test in a form reversal after their crushing first-Test defeat.

New Zealand were 157-5 at stumps in reply to the Proteas’ first innings of 364, which was inflated by a 62-run ninth-wicket partnership between Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen.

Colin de Grandhomme struck an unbeaten half-century from 36 balls, then blocked out several overs to be 54 not out when play ended in gathering gloom at nearly 19:00hrs local time.

Daryl Mitchell was 29 not out in an unbroken partnership of 66 for New Zealand’s sixth wicket.

“Obviously this match is very different from the first Test,” Rabada (3-37 from 12 overs) said.

“We’re competing and that’s the way we’re supposed to play. I think we’re in a pretty good position here.”

The second day belonged to South Africa, though the first session and the last hour of the day didn’t.

The tourists resumed their first innings at 238-3 after gaining the upper hand on the first day but New Zealand took 4-60 before lunch to re-balance the match

South Africa regained the upper hand when Jansen made 37 and Maharaj 36 in a partnership that lifted them to 364, better than par after choosing to bat on winning the toss.

The Proteas were bowled out for 95 and 111 at the same venue, Hagley Oval, in the first Test.

Rabada put South Africa well on top when he dismissed Kiwi captain Tom Latham in the first over and Will Young in the fifth to leave New Zealand 9-2.

South Africa-born Devon Conway (16) fell to Jansen and first Test century-maker Henry Nicholls (39) was out to the same bowler with New Zealand on 83.

It was then 91-5 when Tom Blundell was bowled by Rabada without offering a shot, before de Grandhomme and Mitchell helped avert further damage.

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings o\n 238-3
Dean Elgar b Tim Southee 41
Sarel Erwee c Tom Blundell b Matt Henry 108
Aiden Markram c Daryl Mitchell b Neil Wagner 42
Rassie van der Dussen c Daryl Mitchell b Neil Wagner 35
Temba Bavuma b Matt Henry 29
Kyle Verreynne c Tom Latham b Matt Henry 4
Wiaan Mulder c Tom Blundell b Neil Wagner 14
Marco Jansen not out 37
Kagiso Rabada c Daryl Mitchell b Neil Wagner 6
Keshav Maharaj c Henry Nicholls b Kyle Jamieson 36
Lutho Sipamla c Tim Southee b Kyle Jamieson 0
Extras: (lb-7, nb-4, w-1) 12
Total: (all out, 133.0 overs) 364
Fall of wickets: 1-111, 2-199, 3-199, 4-257, 5-261, 6-277, 7-296r, 8-302, 9-364.
Bowling: Tim Southee 32-11-75-1, Matt Henry 35-10-90-3, Kyle Jamieson 27-10-74-2 (1), Colin de Grandhomme 8-3-16-0 (nb-1), Neil Wagner 31-10-102-4 (nb-3).
NEWZEALAND 1st innings
Tom Latham c Kyle Verreynne b Kagiso Rabada 0
Will Young c Kyle Verreynne b Kagiso Rabada 3
Devon Conway c Kyle Verreynne b Marco Jansen 16
Henry Nicholls c Sarel Erwee b Marco Jansen 39
Daryl Mitchell not out 29
Tom Blundell b Kagiso Rabada 6
Colin de Grandhomme not out 54
Extras: (lb-6. nb-2, w-2) 10
Total: (five wkts, 45.0 overs) 157
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-9, 3-51, 4-83, 5-91.
Bowling: Kagiso Rabada 12-2-37-3, Marco Jansen 12-2-48-2 (nb-1), Lutho Sipamla 11-4-34-0 (w-1), Wiaan Mulder 6-2-25-0 (nb-1), Keshav Maharaj 4-1-7-0.