By Huw Beynon
Asked to bowl first, the BlackCaps would have marked South African opener Richard Levi as the main threat, but it was his partner Hashim Amla that caused some early trouble with the bat.
Amla was looking to set the pace until his wicket was taken by Martin Guptil, leaving Levi to pick off where he left off.
Guptil took a sharp catch at cover to dismiss Ab de Villiers as the visitors struggled to get into any rhythm - that was until Justin Ontong let loose with some huge shots.
Four sixes in row added some respectability to the South African total which JP Duminy helped extend to 147 with a late flourish.
And after a stellar performance in the field Guptill looked to back it up with the willow, too.
Rob Nicol chipped in with a few bludgeoned boundaries, but it was Guptill who was stealing the show.
Hashim Amla covered some distance to see off Rob Nicol, as Guptill raced along to his half century.
Brendon MccCllum fell to bring the score to 90 for 2, and Kane Williamson looked to repeat his heroics of last week.
Eventually, Williamson took one quick single too many, while man of the match, Guptil, finished unbeaten on 78, staying around to see James Franklin give New Zealand a 1-nil lead in the series - the BlackCaps winning by 6 wickets.