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South Africa vs New Zealand: Centurion Test enough to prove Test cricket’s worth

From a sharp, accurate, returning, 'put-on-Earth-to-play Test-cricket' Dale Steyn to a gritty, dogged 76-run innings by 24-year old Henry Nicholls ending in a losing cause, this one Test was enough to prove Test cricket's worth.

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Smiles all around as South Africa reach the fifth spot in the ICC Test rankings. (Photo Courtesy: CA's Twitter handle)
Smiles all around as South Africa reach the fifth spot in the ICC Test rankings. (Photo Courtesy: CA’s Twitter handle)

A two-match Test series, left to a one-off showdown Test, after a Kingsmead wet-outfield spoiler conundrum, ended with hosts South Africa emerging as the clear winners, romping New Zealand by 204 runs, and securing a 1-0 series victory. All this, not before SuperSport Park in Centurion had seen four adventurous days of red ball cricket at its best, from two high-quality Test sides, that produced cricket of the highest order, for the devotees of the game. From a sharp, accurate, returning, ‘put-on-Earth-to-play Test-cricket’ Dale Steyn to a gritty, dogged 76-run innings by 24-year old Henry Nicholls ending in a losing cause, this one Test was enough to prove Test cricket’s worth. Especially, in times when bats terrorise bowlers in shorter formats; bowlers reduced to feeble victims. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: South Africa vs New Zealand, 2nd Test at Centurion

The Centurion Test was not a nail-biter. South Africa didn’t let it become one. It was about things going as per plans. Even if New Zealand would have shown more resistance, grit; the game would have gone on to extend till Day Five, an indication that Faf du Plessis’ decision to declare at 132 for 7 and set the visitors a target of 400, getting a go at them for five sessions was a good one, a confident one.

A target of 400? Just 400? It might look achievable, going by what unfolded at Trent Bridge, the very same day. England scored the highest ever ODI score in history (444 for 3) in the third match against Pakistan. While that game might have seen plenty of humiliation for the bowlers, Centurion was a bowler’s den. New Zealand were all out for 195. And yes, with Steyn taking his 26th five-wicket haul, and going past Wasim Akram’s record of 414 wickets. The win, took the Proteas to the fifth spot in the Test rankings, and well who would have expected that before the series started. But the hosts had fought all their worries away.

Right from Day One, South Africa were in the driving seat. Quinton de Kock, promoted to bat up the order, in Dean Elgar’s (ankle injury) absence, along with Stephen Cook put on a 133-run stand for the opening wicket. That laid the foundation for the other batsmen to follow. While New Zealand were rather unlucky on that day, the hosts’ top four made merry with fifties. READ: South Africa vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, Day 1: JP Duminy’s half-century and other highlights

Day Two then was about du Plessis. A man who loves to stay at the crease, du Plessis played a determined 112-run knock. It was a hard-fought century. Du Plessis had Neil Wagner’s short ball approach to deal with, and he dealt with it head on. He was obstinate at the wicket, determined not to give it away, not to lose the advantage his team had; capitalize on it further.

“He [Wagner] got me going because he is aggressive. I didn’t want to get out to anyone but I read last night that he was determined to get me out so maybe that made me determined not to get out to him. I was just really focused on trying to value my wicket. I was trying to put a huge price on it,” said du Plessis as quoted by EspnCricInfo.

Declaring at 481 for 8, and telling New Zealand to bat in the final session of Day Two, was a good move too. The Kiwis were 38 for 3 at stumps.

Then began Day Three. A day when fast bowlers shined, a rarity nowadays. Kagiso Rabada’s pace broke Kane Williamson and Nicholls’ partnership. Although Rabada was extracting that extra bounce from the pitch, he was hitting the 150 KMPH mark often. That then, was the opening Steyn and Vernon Philander needed. New Zealand were bundled out for 214, giving the hosts a massive 267-run lead. With no plans of batting fourth on the wicket, du Plessis decided not to enforce the follow-on.

But if South Africa’s seamers made use of conditions, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Wagner were not to stay behind either. What followed was a show of spectacular fast bowling. Beautiful seam positions, late movement, delicious swing and plenty of bouncers that hit the deck hard. All the batsmen could do was either duck away, or like de Kock, play the upper cut. At stumps on Day Three South Africa were 105 for 6 with the lead stretched to 372 runs.

On Day Four, the declaration came early. New Zealand had an Everest to climb, 400 to win. Perhaps, you would remember Sir Edmund Hillary for a second for he was a Kiwi too. But that motivation, was swept away in minutes. New Zealand’s fall of wicket read: 0 for 1, 3 for 2, 5 for 3, 7 for 4. ‘Hashtag Steyn remover’ as they call him had been at the nucleus of it. Tom Latham, Martin Guptill were out for first ball ducks. Ross Taylor could not do anything about a delivery striking him low on his pads. But Philander took the big fish, Williamson, after de Kock caught an edge brilliantly. BJ Watling and Nicholls did show some fight, but it was not enough.

If now, the Centurion Test is looked at with a magnifying lens, you would also realise that there were some well-deserved half-centuries too, that deserve their own praise and were not only vital in the context of the game, but also made the Test look even more delightful, worth watching. JP Duminy’s half-century, his first in two years, Amla’s classy 58-run knock, de Kock’s two fifties that earned him the Player of the match award, Williamson’s lone 77-run battle, and Nicholls’ 2nd Test fifty, all added to the beauty of the Test.

But whilst the cricket on show was exemplary, one factor why the second Test was as good as it was, was the fact that there was no rain interruption as well. All the days had bright sunshine, perfect weather for playing. That after there were dark clouds over the Test’s proceedings, and whether the outfield will be able to recover if rain pays a visit. There were some uncertainties after the Kingsmead wet-outfield fiasco. But everything went smoothly, thankfully.

The crowd was good too. Empty stands at Kingsmead certainly didn’t look good. And the “Centurionites,” made up for the Durbanites. They would have been pleased to see their team doing well too.

And finally, Williamson’s ‘gracious-in-defeat’ attitude, that despite the loss, made him say, “The better team won but it would have been great to play another game or another two”. Yes, a few more Tests would have been ideal, but anyway, if you make a checklist for a Test match for it to be a success, all boxes would be ticked, apart from the nail-biter one, probably. Because South Africa took care of it.

(Karan Dewana reporter with CricketCountry, loves following and playing sports. He is a Team India fan and loves winning. Follow him on his twitter handle @karan13dewan)

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