South Africa require just 101 runs to win the second cricket against New Zealand in Hamilton after the home side were dismissed for 168 just five overs after lunch on the third day.

Vernon Philander mopped up the tail to finish with career-best figures of 6-44, claiming Kane Williamson, Mark Gillespie and Chris Martin in successive overs.

Morne Morkel added the wicket of Doug Bracewell to leave the tourists with a small total to chase to go 1-0 in the three-Test series.

New Zealand went to lunch with a modest 74-run lead on 6-142 after losing two wickets in the morning session.

Williamson failed to add to his lunch score of 77, his second-highest Test score, when he edged Philander’s third ball after lunch to Mark Boucher to end his four-hour vigil.

Bracewell was given out lbw in the next over but was reprieved after a review found he had got an inside edge to a ball from Morkel.

He lasted only three balls longer before he did not offer a shot to a Morkel delivery which clattered into his off stump.

Gillespie swung lustily to hit two fours and a six in his nine-ball stay but Philander caught his edge for his fifth wicket.

Martin survived five balls before Philander had his sixth scalp, knocking over his off stump.

Philander, who now has 45 wickets in just six Tests, finished with match figures of 10-114.

In the first session, Jacques Kallis and Philander removed Daniel Vettori and Kruger van Wyk to leave the hosts in trouble at lunch.

Williamson and Vettori, resumed with New Zealand on 4-65, and added 35 before Vettori gloved a delivery behind.

Williamson, who failed to score in the first innings, added 42 with Van Wyk before the diminutive wicketkeeper shouldered arms on 20 to a ball from Philander that jagged back to hit the top of his off stump.

New Zealand began their second innings 68 runs in arrears after Gillespie claimed five wickets to dismiss South Africa for 253 on day two after the hosts were bundled out for 185.