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New Zealand 116 for 3 (Nicholls 37*) lead South Africa 95 (Henry 7-23) by 21 runs
Christchurch: Career best figures of 7/23 from unheralded paceman Matt Henry has helped New Zealand dominate the opening day of the first Test against South Africa in Christchurch.
Henry tore through the South African batting line-up with ease as he picked up the equal third best Test figures by a New Zealand bowler as the Proteas were dismissed for just 92 at Hagley Oval.
A cautious New Zealand had reached 116/3 by stumps to lead by 21 - with Henry Nicholls (37*) and nightwatchman Neil Wagner (2*) unbeaten - and in a strong position to start the two-match Test series in style.
But the day belonged to Henry, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket and matched Sir Richard Hadlee's figures of 7/23 that the New Zealand great collected against India in Wellington in 1976.
Henry was on song right from his opening over, with the tall right-armer getting enough movement off the pitch to claim the key wicket of South Africa captain Dean Elgar for just one.
Shortly after Kyle Jamieson (1/19) got in on the act to dismiss Sarel Erwee for 10, before Henry picked up Aiden Markram (15) and Rassie van der Dussen (8) to have the visitors reeling at 44/4 at lunch.
Veteran quick Tim Southee (1/33) sent Temba Bavuma (7) packing shortly after the lunch break to reduce South Africa to 52/5, with Zubayr Hamza (25) providing brief resistance until Henry mopped up the tail and completed his best Test figures.
South Africa needed to make early inroads with the new ball, but Kagiso Rabada (0/34) and Glenton Stuurman (0/19) were unable to make any impression on the New Zealand openers.
Tall paceman Marco Jansen (1/11) made the breakthrough when he dismissed Will Young for eight and Duanne Olivier (2/36) bowled stand-in Kiwi skipper Tom Latham (15) shortly after to reduce the hosts to 36/2.
But Conway and Nicholls steadied the show, with the former falling late in the day to Olivier for a well-compiled 36 as the hosts took the honours on the opening day.
