New Zealand's 90-year wait for a test series victory over South Africa could soon be inching closer to three figures.

A dismal top-order batting display on day two of the second test at Hagley Oval has the Black Caps in trouble at 157-5, in response to South Africa's first innings of 364.

It's a drastic turnaround from their dominance in the first test; a display that has them one win or draw away from breaking their drought and beating South Africa in a series for the first time.

That's a long way away now, even despite a flourishing fightback from Colin de Grandhomme, who hit a counter-attacking unbeaten 50 as he and Daryl Mitchell dug the Black Caps out from 91-5 and provided an avenue back into the test.

It was a top-order shambles that unravelled some early good work by the Black Caps bowlers, who would have been content with 364 all out after South Africa reached 199-1, and resumed overnight on 238-3.

Matt Henry rediscovered his first-test form, yorking Temba Bavuma and snagging Kyle Verreynne at second slip, while he also should have claimed the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen, who was dropped by Tim Southee at third slip on 21.

It wasn't too costly, with van der Dussen's 124-ball struggle ending on 35 when he snicked a wide half-volley from Neil Wagner to first slip, and Wagner matched Henry's efforts by soon removing Wiaan Mulder and Kagiso Rabada to reduce South Africa to 302-8.

A brief rainfall reinvigorated South Africa's innings however, with Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj combining for a 62-run ninth wicket partnership after the break. Jansen took on Wagner's short-ball and carted him through the legside at a run-a-ball clip, while Maharaj took 14 off one Wagner over as the pair frustrated New Zealand.

Kyle Jamieson, otherwise not up to his usual standards, broke the stand and five balls later ended the innings, but a first-innings total that could have been in arrears of 320 had blossomed to an impressive 364 – a total that looked far more imposing shortly into New Zealand's innings.

After just four balls, Tom Latham was gone, Verreynne springing to his right down the legside to make Rabada the fortunate bowler, and the seamer had two wickets in his first three overs when Will Young needlessly pushed at a ball outside off and gave the keeper another snag.