New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming hit a quick 31 to ease the home side to a nine-wicket victory on the final afternoon of the second Test against South Africa on Monday.

Set a victory target of just 51 runs after dismissing South Africa for 349, Fleming came to the crease when Mark Richardson was caught by Nicky Boje for 10 after misjudging a Makhaya Ntini bouncer.

He hit 17 runs off Ntini's next over and his 31 contained six fours and a six to pick up his 20th win in 57 matches as captain, but first since New Zealand beat India in Hamilton in December 2002.

The hosts lead the three-match series 1-0 after a drawn opening Test in Hamilton. The final match starts on Friday in Wellington.

Earlier, all-rounder Chris Cairns claimed his 200th Test wicket to help dismiss the Proteas in the first session of the final day.

Recalled fast-medium bowler Chris Martin also played a key role, removing Shaun Pollock to register his second five-wicket haul of the match.

Despite a heroic knock of 154 not out by Jacques Rudolph, New Zealand always looked in control of the outcome once they had compiled a daunting 595 in the first inning.

After scoring his 3,000th Test run on Saturday, Cairns picked up his landmark wicket when Boje edged to Brendon McCullum behind the stumps.

Cairns added two more to his tally with Ntini's wicket two overs later and David Terbrugge's to close the innings.

In passing the milestone, Cairns became the sixth all-rounder to take 200 wickets and score 3,000 Test runs.

Trailing by 299 after the first innings, South Africa resumed on 277 for six and quickly lost Pollock when he edged a rampant Martin to Fleming at first slip for 10.

Pollock's wicket was Martin's 11th of the match after his six for 76 in the first innings. His 11-180 figures are a new record for his country against South Africa.

Boje survived a stern test from Martin before hitting some solid shots to take South Africa past New Zealand's first innings total.

He reached 24 before Cairns struck, while at the other end overnight batsman Rudolph continued to concentrate on staying at the crease for as long as possible.

Ntini and Terbrugge were unable to remain with Rudolph and he ran out of partners after surviving for 436 minutes and 312 deliveries.

He blasted 26 fours and one six but lacked sufficient support from the tail to steer South Africa to safety.

Scoreboard:

South Africa first innings: 296 (G.Smith 88, H.Gibbs 80; C.Martin 6-76).

New Zealand first innings: 595 (S.Styris 170, C.Cairns 158, J.Oram 90, C.McMillan 82; S.Pollock 4-113, M.Ntini 3-110)

South Africa second innings (overnight 277-6)
G.Smith b Martin 0
H.Gibbs lbw b Oram 61
J.Rudolph not out 154
J.Kallis lbw b McMillan 71
G.Kirsten lbw b Martin 1
N.McKenzie c Papps b Martin 0
M.Boucher c Fleming b Martin 10
S.Pollock c Fleming b Martin 10
N.Boje c McCullum b Cairns 24
M.Ntini c McMillan b Cairns 6
D.Terbrugge c sub (Marshall) b Cairns 2

Extras (b-6 lb-1 nb-3) 10

Total (all out, 108.3 overs) 349

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-103, 3-249, 4-250, 5-250, 6-272, 7-290, 8-327, 9-337.

Bowling: Martin 23-5-104-5 (nb-1), Oram 27-13-47-1, Tuffey 4-1-13-0, Cairns 13.3-1-63-3 (nb-2), Vettori 24-4-73-0, Styris 13-5-39-0, McMillan 4-1-3-1.

New Zealand second innings
M.Papps not out 8
M.Richardson c Boje b Ntini 10
S.Fleming not out 31

Extras (nb-4) 4

Total (for one wicket, 10.2 overs) 53

Fall of wicket: 1-20.

Bowling: Pollock 5-1-16-0 (nb-4), Ntini 5-0-31-1, Boje 0.2-0-6-0.

Result: New Zealand won by nine wickets and lead the three-match series 1-0.