SA humble Kiwis for series win

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming blamed his side’s defeat on a ‘‘disastrous session’’ on Sunday, when New Zealand lost five wickets between lunch and tea before being bowled out for disappointing 148.

‘‘You just can’t afford that against a good side,’’ he said.

Fleming admitted his team had been affected by a string of injuries and by the difficulty of playing against a strong South African team. ‘‘With the frustration, the pressure builds,’’ he said. But he said he was pleased with the progress made by young players like Chris Martin, Brooke Walker and Kerry Walmsley, who had come in for injured bowlers.

South African captain Shaun Pollock, after his first Test series win since taking over from the sacked Hansie Cronje in April, paid tribute to a fighting performance in which South Africa had struggled in the first innings.

‘‘It’s great to have wrapped it up in the second Test. It was a big effort to bowl New Zealand out in the second innings,’’ he said.

Pollock said the match had been evenly poised before a 6-run eighth wicket stand between man of the match Neil McKenzie and Nicky Boje enabled South Africa to take a 63-run first innings lead.

‘‘If you are going to be one of the best sides in the world, you have to be able to fight back,’’ he said.

As in the first Test, which South Africa won by five wickets, the New Zealand bowlers and fielders showed spirit in defending a small target. After dismissing Boeta Dippenaar Sunday, they claimed the wickets of Jacques Kallis (26) and Daryll Cullinan (11) before conceding defeat.

Kallis struck five boundaries and was looking in good form until he top-edged a hook against Martin and was caught at deep backward square leg.

Cullinan drove at an inswinger from Walmsley and was bowled between bat and pad.