Career-best bowling figures from Vernon Philander steered South Africa to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over New Zealand in the second Test in Hamilton.

The 26-year-old ended with 6-44 to skittle New Zealand in their second innings for 168 at Seddon Park and leave the tourists needing just 101 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-Test series.

The Proteas lost the wicket of Alviro Petersen early but the target was never going to challenge them and Graeme Smith (55) and Hashim Amla (46) guided them to victory.

Smith hit Rob Nicol to the cover boundary in the 20th over to bring the run chase to an end.

Philander put them on course for the win after snaring three wickets in three overs after lunch to wrap up the New Zealand tail and give him his fifth five-wicket bag in just his sixth Test.

The Cape Town paceman ended with match figures of 10-114 and needs five wickets in the final Test in Wellington next week to become the second fastest bowler to race to 50 Test wickets.

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

They started the day on 4-65 and displayed some fight to lose only two wickets before lunch with Kane Williamson (77) holding the innings together.

But when he edged Philander’s third ball after the resumption to Mark Boucher his 253-minute vigil came to an end and four overs later the New Zealand innings was wrapped up when Philander knocked Chris Martin’s off stump back.

Petersen was gone after four balls to give the Black Caps hope, but Smith and Amla were largely untroubled in knocking off the required runs.

The third Test begins in Wellington on March 23.