South Africa V New Zealand

There might have been a fightback from New Zealand yesterday, but a series defeat is still their most likely outcome, with something of a miracle needed against South Africa at Centurion.

In taking his 26th 5-for in tests, Steyn started and finished New Zealand’s demise.

At stumps on Day 4, Faf du Plessis and his men were 105 for six, an overall lead of 372 runs on a bowler-friendly pitch. Du Plessis, who scored a century in the first innings, was lured forward by a devilish Boult delivery that, according to the batsman’s surprised expression, should not have hit the shoulder of the bat.

South African bowler Vernon Philander celebrates the dismissal of Mitchell Santner at the Supersport Cricket stadium on August 29, 2016.

The combination proved relentless, although it took South Africa more than an hour to take the first wicket of the day, when Rabada trapped Henry Nicholls leg before wicket for 36.

They got the advantage nearly immediately after Steyn’s opening burst yielded three wickets in his first 10 balls to leave New Zealand reeling.

JP Duminy made 88 off 158 balls, with 13 fours, before he was caught behind off Tim Southee, getting a faint edge to an attempted pull against a bouncer.

But Du Plessis, filling in for injured regular skipper AB de Villiers, was the one to capitalize and get to three figures, with his 112 not out allowing the home team the luxury of declaring in their first innings late on the second day.

Among those words might have been lessons on how Wagner, an Afrikaner who was born and raised in Pretoria and moved to New Zealand in 2008, should pronounce his surname. After lunch the fuller delivery again paid off when he trapped Doug Bracewell for 18.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will open the innings with Stephen Cook, which would give the highly-rated van Zyl a chance to re-ignite a test career that has stuttered with an average of only 27.30 in 15 innings.

Steyn’s double breakthrough consigned New Zealand’s premier strokemakers to mount a recovery but Ross Taylor and wounded captain Kane Williamson soon contributed to another unwanted Black Caps’ achievement.

7-442 (Philander), 8-463 (Rabada).

The aggressive De Kock brought up his half-century before lunch and South Africa’s first century opening partnership in this format since December 2013 came just before the interval.

Fittingly, it was Steyn who claimed the final wicket, a short ball drawing Nicholls into a shot that found Rabada in the deep to end his resistance and put New Zealand out of their misery.