Jansen rues late Black Caps fightback but improved Proteas keep pole position

• Proteas all-rounder Marco Jansen said New Zealand's fightback late on day two of the second Test was indicative of their fighting spirit and quality.
• SA had New Zealand on the ropes at 91/5, but Colin de Grandhomme freewheeled his way to a 50 off 36 balls to narrow SA's advantage.
• SA were bowled out for 364, with New Zealand responding with 157/5 at stumps on day two.

Budding Proteas all-rounder Marco Jansen said they expected a fightback from New Zealand, one that came in the form of the sixth-wicket stand between Colin de Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell.

South Africa walked away with the second day spoils when they had New Zealand at 157/5 at the end of the second day's play of the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Their lead of 207 could have even been bigger, but the free-spirited De Grandhomme (54*) hit a 36-ball 50, his ninth in Tests, and dominated the 66-run partnership between him and Mitchell that allowed the hosts to whittle down SA's lead after they bowled SA out for 364.

SCORECARD | New Zealand v South Africa, Second Test, Day Two

The alliance came after Jansen (2/48) and Kagiso Rabada (3/37) worked their way through the Blacks Caps' top-order, leaving the possibility of accruing a big lead on a surface that increasingly took turn.

Jansen said they recognised the threat that would come from New Zealand's middle and lower-order, but they would press to force mistakes.

"We always knew there was going to be a partnership somewhere, but we said we won't back down if one comes up," Jansen said.

"We just need to stay in the fight and keep hitting our areas for as long as possible. We're going to go out on day three and try to make them play as much as possible.

"We'll try to force them to make the mistakes because it is a good batting wicket if the ball isn't doing anything."

While South Africa's bowling remained intelligent in the face of De Grandhomme's belligerence, New Zealand's top-order had few answers to get past the same attack they dominated last week.

One of the rabbits pulled out of the hat was Henry Nicholls' (39) dismissal at the hands of Jansen, where the southpaw skied a cut to Sarel Erwee at deep point.

While Jansen said there was an element of planning that went into removing New Zealand's first Test centurion, it had its roots in cutting out his scoring areas.

"We knew that he loves to cut and loves to play straight," Jansen said.

"So for the bowlers, the plan was to hit our areas and if we missed the mark, we would at least be bowling short and wide to him as we had that protection in the deep point.

"Luckily for me, he picked out the guy, but I didn't plan to get him out that way. We were just trying to close off his scoring options.

"Fortunately, that led to his wicket."

Scores in brief:

SA: 364 (Sarel Erwee 108, Aiden Markram 42, Dean Elgar 41, Neil Wagner 4/103, Matt Henry 3/90, Kyle Jamieson 2/74)