De Swardt, Von Berg lead Proteas fightback in second New Zealand Test

Ruan de Swardt's unwavering first Test half-century allowed South Africa to finish the first day of the second Test against New Zealand on 220/6 at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday.

It was slow, but necessary going for the visitors, who lost their first wicket to the seventh ball of the day when Clyde Fortuin, asked to open in place of Edward Moore, firmly chipped Matt Henry to Glenn Phillips at gully.

De Swardt (55*) and Shaun von Berg (34*) made sure their 70-run stand for the seventh wicket saw off Fortuin's first-ball duck and a plethora of starts that should have been converted.