Black Caps on the back foot

Published Aug 29, 2016

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South Africa’s fast bowlers struck three critical blows on the third morning of the second Sunfoil Test against New Zealand, further cementing the home team’s strong position.

New Zealand reached lunch on 118/6 at SuperSport on Monday having lost Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner all in the last 34 minutes before the interval.

Until then New Zealand’s batsmen had played the patience game well led by captain Kane Williamson. He and Nicholls resumed on the tourists overnight total of 38/3 and despite some anxious moments for Nicholls against Dale Steyn early, they made steady progress through the first hour. The pair shared a stand of 50 for the fourth wicket with Nicholls, who’d resumed on 4 going onto make 36 before he was cleverly trapped lbw by Kagiso Rabada.

The 21 year old fast bowler, who recorded career best figures at SuperSport Park against England in January this year, followed up a rapid bouncer - delivered at 150km/h - with a straight and very full delivery, and with the batsman stuck on the crease it made for what should have been an easy lbw decision. Umpire Paul Reiffel must have thought the ball pitched outside leg stump, but on referral that was found not to be the case.

Rabada’s six over spell from the West Lane End was a punishing one for the Kiwi batsmen, with the young quick regularly exceeding 140km/h.

Faf du Plessis cleverly rotated his three seam bowlers in warm conditions, and there was reward too for Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. The former bowled a hasty short ball aimed at the ribs of BJ Watling, which the batsman was only able to fend via the gloves through to Quinton de Kock. Again, South Africa had to refer the decision to the third umpire, after the standing official Ian Gould had said ‘not out.’ Watling made just eight and he was followed by Mitchell Santner a short while later, who got an inside edge to a ball that slanted back into him from Philander, with the ball hitting the top of middle stump, to be bowled for nought.

Williamson was left fighting a lone battle, not out on 40 at the break in the company of Doug Bracewell who is yet to score.

New Zealand trail by South Africa’s first innings total by 363 runs with just four wickets in hand, and theirs is an uphill battle against a confident looking South African seam attack. Steyn and Philander have picked up two wickets each and along with Rabada will be looking to put a swift end to the Black Caps innings with an eye on perhaps asking them to follow on.

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