Published: Mar 11, 2017, 03:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 11, 2017, 03:37 PM (IST)
For one side to dominate a single day in the 1st Test between New Zealand and South Africa, it took three days. South Africa, mounting on Dean Elgar (89) and captain Faf du Plessis (56*), posted 224 at the end of Day Four to attain 191-run lead over New Zealand. The day saw some brilliant batting effort from Elgar who missed out on his century by just 11 runs, followed with some resilient batting towards the end from du Plessis to keep hold of the game despite losing Bavuma (6) and Quinton de Kock (4) in quick succession. Jeetan Patel and Neil Wagner did get 2 wickets each, but otherwise the hosts had a forgetful day. So let’s take a look at some of the highlights of Day Four that grabbed the attention. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, New Zealand vs South Africa, 1st Test at Dunedin
Dropped: New Zealand had a frustrating start to Day Four. In the first session, they dropped 2 catches of JP Duminy and Elgar.
It started with Trent Boult’s first delivery of 28th over. It was a fullish delivery just outside off. The ball nipped away from left-handed batsman along with extra-bounce and Duminy poked his bat at it, managing to get a healthy edge. But Tom Latham, the man at first slip, dropped this regulation sitter.
Duminy was on 6 then and managed to add 36 more to his tally and more importantly added 74 for third wicket with Elgar.
The next shocker came in Jimmy Neesham’s over, 40th of the innings. The third delivery was a full, angled in delivery which nibbled away outside off. Elgar tried to flirt but nicked it. Wicketkeeper BJ Watling threw himself to his left. It was a full-length dive from him but still the ball kissed the fingertip of his gloves and sneaked in the big gap between the keeper and Latham at first slip to the boundary.
This was twice in as many innings that Watling had saved Elgar. In the first innings on 36, wherein Elgar scored 140 and in the second Elgar was on 35 eventually scoring 89.
DRS shockers: New Zealand did a Team India today. They were clueless about when and when not to use the DRS system.
The first goof-up was in over No. 24 when Boult bowled full which was angled in. After pitching, the ball swung away, cramming Duminy. There was a sound when the ball passed the bat and Watling went up instantly as he collected the ball. Kane Williamson went for review straightaway but the replay showed the ball hitting the pads and not the bat. They also checked for lbw, but only to see the ball missing the off-stump.
The second instance happened on the last ball of over No. 38. Jeetan Patel tossed up the delivery angling in. The ball went on to hit Duminy’s back-leg. There was a strong appeal but was turned down by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. It looked out from the naked-eye but strangely the Kiwis did not go for a review despite having one. NZ vs SA, 1st Test, Day 4: Elgar, du Plessis ensure Protea dominance
The impact was in line and the ball would have hit the off stump. The ball-tracking system displayed three reds and had New Zealand reviewed this, they would have easily overturned the on-field not-out decision.
The last horrid time with the review system for the hosts came in the over No. 39. Patel bowled a quicker one which skidded of the surface hitting Duminy on his knee-roll. There was a loud appeal from everyone around the stump. But umpire Dharmasena turned it down again. But this time Williamson went for the review and the replay showed a big inside edge before the ball hit the pads.
Quinton de Kock’s wicket- Jeetan Patel’s delight: When de Kock walked out, his team had lost 2 wickets in quick succession. But he lasted for only 10 deliveries. Patel bowled an off-breakers’ delight.
He tossed up the delivery over off-stump which spun and went onto uproot the leg-stump. De Kock had no answer to this delivery and walked back looking at the wicket in amusement.
Prior to this, Patel has dismissed de Kock 4 times including one in this game’s first innings.
Brief scores:
South Africa 308 & 224 for 6 (Dean Elgar 89, Faf du Plessis 56*; Neil Wagner 2 for 57, Jeetan Patel 2 for 72) lead New Zealand 341 (Kane Williamson 130, BJ Watling 50; Keshav Maharaj 5 for 94, Morne Morkel 2 for 62) by 191 runs
