NZ 59-1 at tea on day 2, 1st test vs. South Africa

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:15 p.m. ET

DUNEDIN, New Zealand (AP) New Zealand dug in to reach 59-1 Thursday in reply to South Africa's first innings of 308 at tea on the second day of the first cricket test.

South Africa's Vernon Philander dismissed Tom Latham early for 10, leaving Jeet Raval (26 not out) and Kane Williamson (21 not out) at the crease after New Zealand ripped through the visiting team's lower order.

South Africa lost the last six wickets for just 56 runs to be dismissed for 308 shortly after lunch at University Oval.

Dean Elgar posted his highest test score of 140 and Temba Bavuma made 64 before Trent Boult (4-64) and Neil Wagner (3-88) combined to mop up the tail.

Elgar added 12 runs in 50 minutes to his overnight score of 128, passing his previous test best of 129, before falling to his former schoolboy rival Wagner.

Wagner, who was born in South Africa and frequently played against Elgar in high school matches, dismissed Elgar with a short ball that caught the edge and flew to New Zealand wicketkeeper B.J. Wagner, breaking a 104 run partnership with Bavuma.

Bavuma reached his fifth half century in tests from 143 balls in just over three hours and looked likely to take over the anchor role before falling to Boult in sight of lunch, gloving a legside catch to Watling.

Philander made the early breakthrough for South Africa when he captured Latham's wicket in his opening spell when he found the edge and wicketkeeeper Quinton de Kock safely held the catch.