All-rounder Rachin Ravindra continued to bolster his reputation with three for 33 as New Zealand reduced a weakened but battling South Africa side to 220 for six on the first day of the second test at Seddon Park on Tuesday.

The Proteas won the toss and elected to bat on a bright, sunny day in Hamilton but, as in their thumping 281-run loss in the first test, scored slowly and struggled to turn starts into substantial tallies until the final session of the day.