KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's top order batting failed again as the tourists, struggling to shake off their rustiness, limped to the end of the second day of a four-day match against South Africa A.
Replying to the home side's imposing 443, the Black Caps crashed to 192 all out. Despite having a lead of 251, South Africa A did not enforce the follow-on. They were 20 for two at the close.
For the second successive match, captain Daniel Vettori, batting at number eight, was his side's top scorer. He made 83 off 74 balls before he was the last man out.
Fast bowler Friedel de Wet and left-arm swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe were mainly responsible for the New Zealanders' collapse.
De Wet took six for 50 and Tsotsobe three for 67.
The Black Caps face South Africa in the first of two tests in Johannesburg on Thursday but, after three completed innings on tour, only one top-order batsman - opener Craig Cumming in the second innings against an Invitation XI in Bloemfontein - has made a half-century.
Vettori hit 99 in the first innings in his team's 216-run win in the opening match.
The Kiwi skipper came in when the New Zealanders were floundering at 62 for six. He and Ross Taylor (36) put on 59 for the seventh wicket.
When Taylor was caught and bowled by De Wet, Vettori went on the attack to score 46 of the next 60 runs before he slashed a catch off De Wet to third man.
Earlier, Vettori took three for 80 as he and medium-pacer Jacob Oram (three for 39) claimed five of the six wickets that fell as South Africa A, who resumed on 350 for four, were bowled out quickly.
Former test batsman Neil McKenzie took his overnight score of 156 to a career-best 182 before he was caught behind off Oram.
The 31-year-old McKenzie has played 41 tests but is something of a forgotten man in South African cricket and his superb innings was a timely reminder of his class. He batted for seven-and-a-quarter hours and faced 301 balls.
New Zealand were in to bat after lunch - and they were soon in trouble as Michael Papps (1) was out in the fourth over, bowled by a Charl Langeveldt inswinger.
Lou Vincent briefly threatened with 21 off 30 balls with four boundaries, but de Wet and left-armer Tsotsobe were causing waves and wickets tumbled, the top-order being swept away as New Zealand crashed to 63 for six.
Vettori hit out but the batting performance as a whole signalled an alarming lack of preparation ahead of the first test against South Africa starting next Thursday, two hours' drive away in Johannesburg.
"We didn't bat particularly well, we're still scratching around after our winter break," said Vincent after play the day's play.
The Aucklander denied the pitch was acting up at all. "There's no excuse though, we let ourselves down. It's a true test wicket, pretty flat but not overly easy."
