Johannesburg - Proteas wicket-keeper batsman, Mark Boucher notched another career milestone with his 550th dismissal in the second Test match against New Zealand in Hamilton.

Boucher has taken 551 dismissals (528 ct / 23 st), 145 more than Adam Gilchrist's 416 and Ian Healy's 395, second and third on the all-time list.

Proteas Test captain Graeme Smith lauded Boucher's achievement and said his credentials remain world-class.

"Mark has been an unheralded servant of South African cricket and he deserves every milestone that he reaches," said Smith.

"His dedication and contribution as a sportsman in the South African cricket team has been invaluable over the years."

Boucher took five catches in the Proteas' emphatic nine-wicket win at Seddon Park to reach the 550 landmark, one he says is special to him.

"Reaching 550 dismissals is a special milestone for me," said Boucher, who will be playing in his 147th Test match for South Africa starting in Wellington on Friday.

"I always strive to give the best for the team and to help us win matches and, if I can do that while breaking career milestones, it's an added bonus for me.

"It's difficult to single out a particular or memorable dismissal after 15 years of international cricket, they have all played a small part of a bigger picture for the Proteas.

"I only hope that I can continue playing that part behind the stumps."

He had to wait until his second Test match in 1998 to take his first catch, Pakistan's Aamer Sohail was the batsman, with Shaun Pollock providing the delivery, the first victim in a long line to come.

Interestingly, he achieved the feat of taking six catches in an innings in only his fourth match for the Proteas during the same series against Pakistan and has since repeated the performance four times in his career.

In 1998, a golden year for him, Boucher went on to equal Ian Healy's record of 67 dismissals in a year.