‘Carnage’: New Zealand quick Matt Henry obliterates South Africa’s batting attack in Christchurch

New Zealand quick Matt Henry has ripped through South Africa’s batting attack, helping bowl out the Proteas for less than 100.

New Zealand paceman Matt Henry has ripped through South Africa’s batting attack in Christchurch, claiming career-best figures on day one of the first Test.

The 30-year-old took 7/23 from 15 overs on Thursday morning, his maiden five-wicket haul at Test level, to help roll the Proteas for 95 on a green seamer at Hagley Oval.

It was comfortably South Africa’s lowest team score against New Zealand in Test history.

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The Proteas have not been bowled out in the first innings of a Test match for under 100 since 1932.

Henry’s figures were the third-best by a New Zealand bowler in Test history, bettered only by the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee and teammate Ajaz Patel, who famously took 10 wickets in an innings against India last year.

Matt Henry of New Zealand. Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

New Zealand captain Tom Latham won the toss and elected to bowl first in Christchurch, a decision that quickly paid dividends.

After removing South African skipper Dean Elgar for his fourth ball of the day, Henry struck twice in the 19th over to send Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen back to the pavilion.

The right-armer returned in the afternoon session to clean up the South African tail, claiming 4/0 in a blistering 22-ball spell.

“It was a great feeling to do that at home at Hagley in front of friends and family,” Henry told Spark Sport.

“It’s nice to get a bag like that, it felt really good.”

Zubayr Hamza top-scored for the Proteas with 25; no other South African player passed 20 in an abysmal batting display.

Best bowling figures by a New Zealander in Test history

10/119 – Ajaz Patel vs IND, Dec 2021

9/52 – Sir Richard Hadlee vs AUS, Nov 1985

7/23 – Sir Richard Hadlee vs IND, Feb 1976

7/23 – Matt Henry vs RSA, Feb 2022

7/27 – Chris Cairns vs WI, Dec 1999

Carnage #NZvSA

— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) February 17, 2022

What is going on @sparknzsport ? #NZvSA#glitch

— Mitch McCann (@MitchMcCannNZ) February 17, 2022

It's sad that Matt Henry played at a time New Zealand had three, sometimes four, quicks of the highest quality in Tests.

His FC record is incredibly good: 335 wkts @ 24.7 with 43 four-plus wicket hauls!#NZvSApic.twitter.com/wpj8z2KOJu

— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) February 17, 2022

Since making his Test debut in 2015, Henry has taken 44 wickets at 39.43 in 15 matches for the Black Caps.

Incredibly, the Canterbury quick will almost certainly be dropped ahead of the second Test for New Zealand stalwart Trent Boult, who was unavailable for the series opener with paternity leave.

The Black Caps were also without captain Kane Williamson due to a left elbow injury, with Latham serving as skipper in his absence.

South Africa’s woes compounded when New Zealand’s innings got underway in the evening session, with Marco Jansen spilling a regulation chance at gully to gift Latham an extra life on 9.