Published: Mar 25, 2017, 01:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 25, 2017, 02:06 PM (IST)
There was little to decide within the two sessions as the game tilted in favour of both the sides on Day One of the third and final Test in Hamilton. However, it was rain that played a crucial role by not only delaying the toss but also abandoning the day’s play after tea break. New Zealand had early success, bagging three wickets within the first session. They continued to grill the visitors in the second session as well. South Africa would have been in an advantageous position with the presence of Hashim Amla, who slammed his 32nd fifty and first in the series. But there were other things too that grabbed the attention. Let us have a look at the highlights that stole the show despite rain playing spoilsport: Full Cricket Scorecard: New Zealand vs South Africa, 3rd Test at Hamilton
Theunis de Bruyn’s unfortunate debut: A lot of eyebrows were raised when Stephen Cook was axed for debutant de Bruyn, especially with Faf du Plessis stressing on experienced players to play crucial rule for the final Test during pre-match conference. In 36 First-Class matches so far, de Bruyn has played in the middle order and when asked to open in an innings for the first time, he could not deal with the pressure of the New Zealand bowlers. An outside off delivery from Matt Henry that could have been left, was nicked by de Bruyn, eventually getting caught at the second slip by Tom Latham. It was a rather unfortunate debut for de Bruyn who was dismissed for naught.
‘Brain-Fade’ reaches New Zealand? The trend of ‘brain-fade’ has been a part of cricket of late. However, it captured the eyes of many during the DRS incident of Steven Smith at Bengaluru or when Virat Kohli threw away his wicket in the first innings where a misjudgement saw him caught in front of the wickets by Nathan Lyon for 13.
Elgar, who stuck around at the crease at Dunedin with a century in the first and half-century in the second, was dismissed within three overs in the final Test. Elgar misjudged the length of Colin de Grandhomme’s delivery that could have been played and just shouldered his arms, eventually stunned to find the top of his off stump clipped. Another brain-fade?
DRS drama and Neil Wagner: New Zealand’s poor run with DRS usage continued in the third and final Test as well. Wagner, who delivered first ball of his first over, could have trapped Duminy for 7 when the ball signalled a direct hit. The hosts reviewed it but on-field umpire Rod Tucker dismissed the appeal and Williamson nodded in disappointment to review the same over DRS, thereby losing an opportunity.
A review was wasted when Matt Henry also appealed for lbw against Duminy who was playing on 18 for a delivery that was pitching outside leg stump. Rain comes to rescue SA as play gets abandoned after tea on Day 1, 3rd Test
The second review was wasted against du Plessis as the delivery came off the middle of the bat and was rightly given not out by the on-field umpire, there by losing the second review.
The fourth time Wagner was unlucky with du Plessis on strike again. Minutes later after the second review was wasted, a faint edge from du Plessis was caught by BJ Watling behind the stumps. Bruce Oxenford disagreed to the appeal and New Zealand were helpless with no reasons to go for a DRS.
Hashim Amla-JP Duminy repair job: South Africa, within first 3 overs, were 5 for 2. Amla and Duminy entered and began the rescue job. The duo not only stitched 59-run stand for third wicket but also got the momentum back with the tourists. After Duminy’s dismissal for 20, Amla went on to secure his first fifty in the series and is now 67 runs away from completing 8,000 Test runs.
