Matt Henry produced a career-best seven for 23 in a spectacular display of pace bowling as New Zealand skittled out South Africa for 95 in two sessions to take charge of the opening Test in Christchurch on Thursday.

Playing his first Test in eight months because Trent Boult is away on paternity leave, Henry wreaked havoc on a greentop at the Hagley Oval, consigning South Africa to their lowest score against New Zealand.

New Zealand were 116/3 at stumps after 13 wickets fell on the bowler-dominated opening day of the contest.

Henry Nicholls was batting on 37 with nightwatchman Neil Wagner on two at the other end and New Zealand on course for a big first-innings lead. “Great to do it in front of my home fans, friends and family,” Henry said after registering the joint third-best Test figures by a New Zealand bowler.

Henry, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson extracted considerable movement in the air and bounce off the pitch after Tom Latham elected to field.