Kane Williamson, Jeet Raval’s century-stand frustrate South Africa bowlers in second session of Day 3, 3rd Test
Williamson, Raval’s century-stand frustrate SA bowlers in second session of Day 3
New Zealand continued their dominance in the second session against South Africa on Day Three of third and final Test in Hamilton. The partnership of 126 between skipper Kane Williamson and Jeet Raval have now put the hosts in charge. Williamson slammed his 26th Test fifty and in turn also became the fastest New Zealander to 5,000 Test runs after late Martin Crowe and his teammate Ross Taylor. The session went wicketless and saw Williamson, Raval frustrating the South African bowlers remaining unbeaten on 80 and 75 respectively. Williamson is 20-short of his 17th Test century. It would be chance for Williamson to level Crowe’s record once he gets to that mark, and be New Zealand’s joint-highest century maker. New Zealand now trail by 105 and head to tea break at 209 for 1. Full Cricket Scorecard: New Zealand vs South Africa, 3rd Test at Hamilton
The second session began on a rather slow note with Williamson and Raval looking for ones and twos. However, the captain took matter into his hands and played successive boundaries off Keshav Maharaj and Morne Morkel. He was then 15 short of reaching his career milestone of 5,000 Test runs. By 58.3 overs, South Africa’s frustration was rather visible when umpire’s decided to go with a new ball as the previous one was out of shape. South African captain Faf du Plessis was miffed with the umpires on the ball being changed.
Unfazed by the drama around, Williamson approached his second fifty in this series that consisted of 6 fours and a six. By drinks break, New Zealand were in comfortable position at 174 for 1 moving at run-rate of 2.85. Soon after, Williamson got to his milestone in style with a maximum over square leg off Vernon Philander. He reached the milestone in his 110th innings. Crowe reached his 5,000-mark from 117 innings while Taylor got to it off 120. Raval played a perfect supporting role with captain Williamson by stitching century-stand.
Responding to South Africa’s 314, New Zealand came stronger on Day Three on a rain-shortened first session. Latham and Raval slammed fifties producing the highest opening partnership of 83 in this series. Latham who never went past 10 in the series, slammed his 13th Test fifty while Raval got to his third fifty in this series and 5th over all. However, he became victim to Morkel, handing him his 250th Test wicket. He edged and was caught with one-arm by Quinton de Kock behind the stumps,
New Zealand who started off with overnight score of 67 for no loss, saw Latham and Raval adding 16 runs before Morkel grabbed the former. Williamson and Raval then added 49 runs to it, heading for lunch break at 132 for 1.
Brief scores:
South Africa 314 (Hashim Amla 50, Faf du Plessis 53, Quinton de Kock 90, Kagiso Rabada 34; Matt Henry 4 for 93, Neil Wagner 3 for 104) lead New Zealand 209 for 1 (Tom Latham 50, Jeet Raval 75*, Kane Williamson 80*; Morne Morkel 1 for 45) by 105 runs