Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock’s fifties boosts South Africa’s lead in first session vs New Zealand on Day 2 of 3rd Test

Quinton de Kock boosted the morale of South Africa building healthy lead at lunch break with score reading 243 for 7 on a sunny Day Two of third Test. The first session was evenly poised with 120 runs conceded and 3 wickets taken. Where South Africa’s de Kock and Faf du Plessis raised their 9th and 12th Test fifties respectively, New Zealand continued to stun the spectators with some sensational fielding efforts and bowling expertise. Matt Henry ended with a 4-for while spinners also had something to cheer as Mitchell Santner bagged apiece. However, de Kock is on the verge of replicating his Wellington heroics along with Keshav Maharaj who remained unbeaten on 66 and 5 respectively. Full Cricket Scorecard: New Zealand vs South Africa, 3rd Test at Hamilton

Du Plessis and Temba Bavuma rode on their overnight score of 123 for 4 with a powerful boundary to de Grandhomme over square leg. Bavuma and du Plessis built a healthy 50-run stand and maintained pressure on the New Zealand bowlers who were moving at a speed of 139 kph. However, Bavuma’s run with pull shot failed as Henry grabbed his third wicket and the first for the day with an outside edge that was comfortably caught by Jeet Raval at the first slip. Meanwhile, South Africa crawled to 150-run mark with a couple of runs for new batsman de Kock. His partner du Plessis, in the mean time, approached his fifty off 94 deliveries nudging a single.

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The de Kock and Jeetan Patel rivalry took a new turn when the former decided to smash his delivery for a maximum and the first one of the innings over mid-wicket. By the drinks time, South Africa were 177 with du Plessis, de Kock on 50 and 21 respectively. Santner, who was off the field on Day One due to a shoulder niggle, was called into attack for the 61st over. Santner enjoyed the turn that the conditions were providing him and du Plessis fell under his trap.

Du Plessis positioned himself for a paddle-sweep with Tom Latham closely anticipating and concentrating on the South African captain’s movement from short leg. Misjudging the turn, du Plessis nudged the delivery towards Latham’s right and a freak catch handed Santner a crucial wicket. That not only left the spectators but also Bruce Oxenford stunned and surprised.

Unfazed by the sensational catch, de Kock continued his run-parade with the support of all-rounder Philander. With just 7 runs on board, Philander not only unlocked the milestone of 1,000 Test runs but also became the sixth South African after Jacques Kallis, Nicky Boje, Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock and Trevor Goddard to secure 1,000 runs and 100 wickets.

De Kock pushed his side to the 200-run mark with a classic boundary towards deep-backward point. However, Henry continued to hold his fort over South African batsmen and claimed his fourth, trapping Philander with an edgy delivery that landed comfortably to Latham who was placed on first slip.

Day One marred by rain saw New Zealand ruling the roost claiming four wickets within two sessions that was shared between Henry and de Grandhomme. However, Hashim Amla’s first fifty in the series and his crucial 59-run stand for third wicket along with JP Duminy was the only talking point for South Africa to stabalise their innings.

Brief scores:

South Africa 243 for 7 (Hashim Amla 50, Faf du Plessis 53, Quinton de Kock 66; Matt Henry 4 for 57, Mitchell Santner 1 for 19) vs New Zealand