NZ vs SA | Williamson shines as New Zealand grind out first Test series win over Proteas

Kane Williamson's unbeaten century leads New Zealand to a series win over South Africa in a record run chase.

Kane Williamson hit an unbeaten century as New Zealand patiently chased down a victory target of 267 to beat South Africa by seven wickets on the fourth day of the second Test on Friday and clinch a first ever series win over the Proteas.

South Africa, severely depleted with most of their top players back home playing the SA20 tournament, battled hard to even up the series at but were unable to make sufficient inroads into the home batting order.

Williamson's 133, his 32nd Test century, mostly came in a partnership of 152 with Will Young (60 not out) that got the Black Caps over the line in what was a record fourth-innings run chase in a Test at Seddon Park.

The 2-0 series triumph, a first in 19 attempts over nearly a century, will come with a hefty asterisk due to the inexperience of the South African squad, which possessed fewer caps in total than several of the Black Caps on their own.

"It was a pretty old fashioned sort of ding-dong Test match," said New Zealand skipper Tim Southee.

"Kane played an absolute blinder, as he has done for so many years, and he was well assisted by Youngy today."

The tourists will take credit for putting up such a fight after losing the first Test by a thumping 281 runs but captain Neil Brand was left ruing a second-innings collapse on Thursday in which they lost their last six wickets for 33 runs.