Rookie shines for SA after skipper's scathing assessment

Rookie opener Sarel Erwee has responded to a challenge from his captain with a maiden century for South Africa on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Erwee's 108 helped South Africa to 3-238 at stumps and gave them insulation against a setback late in the day when the wickets of Erwee and Aiden Markram's (42) fell within the space of three balls.

Temba Bavuma was unbeaten on 22 with Rassie van der Dussen not out 13.

Proteas captain Dean Elgar threw down the challenge to his fellow batsmen when he chose to bat on winning the toss at the same ground where the tourists were dismissed for 95 and 111 in losing the first Test by an innings and 276 runs.

Erwee had managed only 10 runs on debut in the first Test.

But he combined with Elgar (41) in an 111-run opening stand on Friday, the Proteas' first century partnership for the first wicket in 34 Tests.

Erwee reached his first half century just before lunch and his century in the over before tea, after exactly four hours at the crease.

"I wasn't expecting (to bat first) until Dean came up to me this morning," Erwee said.

"I guess it's part of being an opening batter. You've got to be ready for these things and whatever comes your way you've got to throw a punch."

The pitch at Hagley Oval wasn't quite the seamer's paradise on which New Zealand's four-pronged pace attack thrived in the first Test.

But it was still green enough for some commentators' jaws to drop when Elgar chose to bat first and explained it was important for South Africa to "front up" after their failure in the first Test.

He said the first-Test loss had "absolutely nothing to do with skill. Mentally we were beaten by ourselves."

Elgar said the second-Test pitch appeared drier and less well-grassed and he was proved right.

The ball swung at times in overcast conditions and one such delivery from Tim Southee, which swung in then straightened, hit the top of Elgar's off stump.

Markram, who came to the crease after Elgar's dismissal, was barely hanging onto his place at No.3 after going 10 innings without a half century.

He had made 42 and put on 88 for the second wicket when he perhaps became too confident, driving at a ball from Neil Wagner wide of off-stump and edging a catch to Daryl Mitchell at first slip.

Two balls later, Erwee drove at a wide full ball from Matt Henry and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, leaving the Proteas 3-199.

Bavuma twice edged at a catchable height through slips for four before that Henry over was complete.

Southee then troubled Bavuma with the second new ball and Henry worried van der Dussen, who was dropped by Devon Conway at short mid-wicket when on nine.