QUINTON de Kock and Temba Bavuma led South Africa’s counter-attack before the tailenders fought doggedly to ensure the Proteas eked out an all-important 81-run lead in the second Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.
De Kock’s 91 (118 balls, 10x4, 3x6) and Bavuma’s 89 (160 balls, 9x4) were the base of the visitors recovery, but Vernon Philander (36 not out) and Morne Morkel (31 not out) continue to frustrate the Black Caps with every stroke as South Africa closed the second day on 349/9.
Such a vast total seemed light years away at the lunch interval when it was the hosts who held the advantage after ripping through South Africa’s top-order to reduce the tourists to 94/6.
After both openers were already dismissed on Thursday, New Zealand enjoyed a wonderful first session when their seamers picked up JP Duminy (16), Hashim Amla (21), captain Faf du Plessis (22) and night-watchman Kagiso Rabada.
At that point South Africa were faced with the prospect of incurring a first innings deficit, but De Kock and Bavuma stood their ground for the next 38.4 overs to add 160 runs at the rasping rate of 4.16 per over for the seventh wicket.
De Kock had his own demons to contend with when he walked out to bat just before the lunch interval. Black Caps off-spinner Jeetan Patel had dismissed South Africa’s wicket-keeper on four successive occasions (the final two ODI’s and both innings in Dunedin) prior to this Test.
There were a couple of tricky moments for “Jeet’s Bunny” but De Kock was determined to get back to his run-scoring ways – he had struck three consecutive half-centuries before the veteran off-spinner was recalled for the fourth ODI – and eventually survived the test of nerves to prosper later on.
In attempt to capitalise on De Kock’s edginess at the crease, the Kiwi fast bowlers attempted to further unsettle him with a short-pitched strategy. It was to their detriment though, for De Kock was much more at ease against the faster bowlers as it allowed him to play with his customary flamboyance.
De Kock went “bang, bang” against Tim Southee with consecutive aerial upper cuts that went for four and six. Neil Wagner suffered the same treatment a couple overs later when De Kock repeated the dosage with a powerful hook shot that sailed on to the grass banks before a rasping cut shot to the square cover fence.
After requiring 33 balls for 17, he needed just a further 22 balls to move to his eighth Test half-century. De Kock continued to play with great freedom after reaching the milestone, but fell nine runs short of deserved century when he followed a Jimmy Neesham away-swinger across his body to edge behind.
But just like in Hobart when South African clinched the series in Australia last year, De Kock needed his dogged little partner Bavuma at the other end to fight with him through the tough moments.
Bavuma, who is fast developing into South Africa’s man for a crisis, followed up his equally important first innings 62 in Dunedin, with another gritty half-century here. He may have ultimately fallen 11 runs short of his second Test century when he succumbed to a Wagner bouncer, but his contribution would have been greatly valued in the dressing room.
In the same breath, the unbroken 47 for the last wicket between Philander and Morkel was gold dust for the Proteas as a tiny lead has now grown into something substantial. Standing currently as an advantage of 81, it may even be match-winning.
Playing each ball on merit and trusting his partner, Philander guided the partnership; which allowed Morkel to grow in confidence the longer he was at crease. Even a hefty blow against the head from a Southee bouncer could not unsettle the lanky seamer as he drove down the ground with style.
With the possibility of even adding more runs on Saturday, it is now South Africa who have the noses in front in this intriguing Test.