Hashim Amla and JP Duminy survived an inspired spell from New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell to keep the Proteas in command despite losing two wickets after lunch in the second Test at Centurion.
Right-arm seamer Bracewell generated some good pace above 140km/h at times and found an ideal length on a slowish pitch to cause Amla and Duminy some problems in the afternoon session, with South Africa ending on 184/2 off 54 overs at tea.
The big loss for the home side was makeshift opener Quinton de Kock, who would’ve been disappointed with his dismissal after a superb performance at the top of the order in place of the injured Dean Elgar.
De Kock had cruised to 82 with a series of cuts, drives and pulls and looked in supreme form as he dictated terms to the Kiwi bowling attack.
But a bouncer barrage from left-arm seamer Neil Wagner – none of which was actually threatening – saw De Kock fall into a trap as he went after a short ball outside off.
The left-hander didn’t have full control over the shot and sent the ball straight down Trent Boult’s throat at fine leg. De Kock hit the ground in disgust as he walked off, and rightly so, as he surely threw away what would’ve been just his second Test hundred in his 10th game.
He grew frustrated with Wagner’s deliberate head-high ploy, but it never looked like getting De Kock out. But the 23-year-old grew frustrated and lost patience to play a rash shot, and it is something that he will have to address if he is to fulfil his amazing potential and cash in with big hundreds going forward.
His dismissal ended a 133-run partnership in 38.5 overs with Stephen Cook, the Proteas’ first century stand for the openers since December 2013 by Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith.
Cook then battled to get to his 50, but eventually after reaching the milestone, he succumbed to Bracewell. The right-hander had been beaten a number of times outside off-stump in the lead-up to the wicket, and finally got a thick edge to be well caught low down by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson at gully for 56 (143 balls, 9x4).
The Proteas had to consolidate and get through to tea, but South Africa nearly lost their talisman as Amla was adjudged lbw to Trent Boult by umpire Ian Gould. The ball had swung prodigiously back into the right-hander, and that saw Amla asking for a review.
And while left-armer Boult had managed to pitch it in line, the ball moved too much and would’ve missed the stumps, and Amla survived on 17. He safely negotiated his way to the break unbeaten on 24, with Duminy on 14.
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