Steyn, Philander help put SA in control

Faf du Plessis of South Africa during day 2 of the 2016 Sunfoil Test Series game between South Africa and New Zealand at Centurion Park. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Faf du Plessis of South Africa during day 2 of the 2016 Sunfoil Test Series game between South Africa and New Zealand at Centurion Park. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Published Aug 28, 2016

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South Africa assumed complete control of the second Sunfoil Test against New Zealand reducing the tourists to 38/3 at the end of the second day at SuperSport Park on Sunday.

A pair of devastating bursts with the new ball from Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander accounted for the New Zealand openers, Martin Guptill and Tom Latham although the latter can feel aggrieved with the decision that saw him given out by TV umpire Richard Illingworth.

South Africa declared at 3.55pm on 481/8, their first innings built around a workmanlike hundred from Du Plessis - his fifth in Test cricket - and half centuries for each of the top four batsmen.

Philander took the first wicket of Guptill squaring up the right hand opener, and finding the edge which flew to third slip where Stiaan van Zyl held onto an easy catch. Guptill made just eight, four of which came as a result of an edge that had flown through Van Zyl’s hands in Philander’s first over.

Latham was beautifully set up by Steyn, who bowled the ball across the left hand throughout and then brought one back into him virtually cutting the batsmen in half. The South Africans all went up for a catch behind by wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock, but with umpire Paul Reiffel saying ‘not out,’ the hosts referred to the TV official.

Illingworth declared a the faintest of inside edges had been found before the ball clipped Latham’s trousers and overturned the decision. There was barely any noise detected by the ‘ultra edge’ technology and with no hot spot in this series, Latham’s could rightly feel unfortunate about being given out.

Ross Taylor, who copped two nasty blows on the shoulder from Steyn and never looked comfortable thereafter, was then stupidly run out, after changing his mind about a quick single, with Temba Bavuma moving smartly across from short leg before throwing down the stumps, leaving New Zealand precariously placed on 26/3.

Earlier it had been a laboured effort from the home team throughout the day, with 75 runs scored in the first session and then 79 before tea. As a way of asserting their dominance in this game it didn’t make for particularly enthralling viewing, but there was no doubting its effectiveness.

For Du Plessis, it was also a vital innings, as like with JP Duminy, he came into this Test under something of a cloud with his place in the starting team far from secure. As it is his century and Duminy’s 88 should secure both of their spots in the squad to tour Australia later this year although there will be a headache for the selectors about who makes the starting XI once AB de Villiers returns from injury.

Du Plessis spent over six hours at the crease facing 234 balls in making 112 not out along the way sharing partnerships of 71 for the fourth wicket with Duminy and 84 for the sixth wicket with Stiaan van Zyl who made a battling 35.

New Zealand bowled largely without luck. Their discipline was outstanding as is underscored by the lack of any wides or no-balls over the course of 154 overs of the South African innings. Trent Boult will be bowl much worse in his career for far greater reward than he received here, where he went wicketless in 35 overs. Instead it was Neil Wagner, playing for the first time at what was once briefly his homeground, who picked up the majority of the South African wickets, registering a richly deserved ‘five-for’ - his fourth in his career - as he finished with figures of 5/86 in 39 overs.

Independent Media

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