Durban - A dominant Hashim Amla ensured the Proteas recovered from losing two early wickets to claim the advantage on Day one of the first Test at Kingsmead on Friday.
South Africa ended the opening session of the two-match series on 94/2 after 27 overs, with Hashim Amla on 42 off 41 balls (9x4), while JP Duminy – who was promoted to No 4 – on 13 (25 balls, 3x4) and keeping the Kiwi bowlers at bay until the break.
The start was delayed by 30 minutes due to a wet outfield, but when play got under way at 10.30am, it was the Proteas who took the initiative after stand-in captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and chose to bat first.
Coach Russell Domingo and the selectors opted to retain six specialist batsmen, with the only change in the top-order from their last Test against England in January being Du Plessis coming in for the injured AB de Villiers.
But the bowling attack received a significant boost, with old stalwarts Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander back in the whites after long spells out with injury.
Elgar and Stephen Cook made a reasonable start as the New Zealand bowlers tried to find their lines and lengths on a Kingsmead pitch that was a bit slow and low initially in what is an unusual time to play cricket in South Africa.
The likes of Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell eventually found their rhythm and start drawing the Proteas openers forward, and the ploy paid off as Cook got a superb delivery from left-armer Boult that pitched on off-stump and straightened, and he got a fine edge to wicket-keeper BJ Watling to be out for 20.
Elgar looked to be settling in and produced a delightful drive for four through the covers off Bracewell, but with the last ball of the same over, the paceman drew the batsman forward and got just enough away movement to the left-hander. Elgar pushed hard at the ball, and found Martin Guptill at second slip to be out for 19, and the Proteas were under pressure at 41/2.
The South Africans then threw out a surprise by sending in Duminy at No 4 ahead of Du Plessis and Temba Bavuma, and the left-hander had a tricky time of it after making a solid start with an early cover drive for four.
But master craftsman Amla quickly got going, hitting three boundaries off Bracewell in the 19th over, and continued to score quickly through the rest of the morning. The Proteas No 3 was strong on the pull and driving through the offside, and made batting look easy in somewhat difficult conditions.
Duminy, though, wasn’t at his fluent best despite a couple of beautiful cover drives, and was nearly burgled out when he tried to sweep left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. The ball looped up to short leg, but when New Zealand captain Kane Williamson asked for a TV referral, the replays showed that Duminy got an under-edge to the ball that hit the ground first before bouncing up to the fielder.
After that incident, the Proteas understandably closed up shop and will be pleased with their efforts in the opening session.
Teams At Kingsmead
South Africa: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis (captain), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
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