Published: Mar 16, 2017, 01:30 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 16, 2017, 02:54 PM (IST)
Hello, good morning and welcome to CricketCountry’s live cricket blog and updates of the first day’s play from the second Test of the three-match series between New Zealand and South Africa. This is Vishal Mehra, and I will be bringing you the live cricket scores and posts of the exhilarating contest being played at Basin Reserve, Wellington. Both the teams have a number of concerns with injured players and inconsistency. But with the series at level with two more games to play and after the dull draw in the series opener, Kane Williamson and Faf du Plessis will be hoping to edge their side ahead of the other with a victory in this penultimate encounter to ensure no defeat in the series. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd Test at Basin Reserve, Wellington
The first Test was a beauty of a game with both teams playing to the best of their ability for the four days. The game was nicely poised for the final day, but due to consistent rainfall, the last day was abandoned without a single delivery being bowled. Dean Elgar scored a scintillating century to take South Africa to 308 in the first innings. But New Zealand skipper Williamson scored his career’s 16th Test century to put the hosts 33 runs ahead of Proteas. It was Elgar again, who with his 89 along with Faf du Plessis’ unbeaten half-century ensured a 191-run lead in the second innings. With the final day all to be played, this riveting encounter had possibilities of all 3 results. But the rain interruption dismantled all the hopes of witnessing a close Test match. But coming into the second encounter, South Africa have their tails up as hosts New Zealand have been struck with injury crisis. It was in New Zealand’s first innings at Dunedin, that they suffered the first setback when veteran Ross Taylor limped back to the dressing room with a calf muscle tear.
The next blow came in the third session of Day Four when ace pacer Trent Boult was sidelined due to a sore hip. By the time the first Test ended, New Zealand made it clear of ruling Taylor out of the second Test, whereas there were doubts about Boult’s involvement. But it was just a matter of time before Boult too was declared unfit. But then, New Zealand still have the services of Tim Southee, who was benched in the first Test. He should be the perfect replacement for injured Boult. Neil Broom, the 33-year old batsman has been named as the replacement for Taylor. But Broom who has played 30 One-Day International (ODI) games is yet to make Test debut.
These factors have put New Zealand on the lower side. South Africa, on the other hand, are brimming with confidence after their performance in the first Test. But the way things passed by at Dunedin, South Africa had the upper hand by the time the game was called off. There have been consistency issues with Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy which will be looming over South Africa camp. So if the visitors want to set things right, they need to get rid of these repugnance’s to make their mark in the series. As far as the weather is concerned, light showers can be expected on Saturday i.e Day Three. But apart from this, the forecast looks quite clear to enable a good game of riveting cricket.
Teams:
South Africa: Stephen Cook, Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (c), Jean-Paul Duminy, Duanne Olivier, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Heinrich Klaasen, Theunis de Bruyn, Dane Piedt
New Zealand: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Neil Broom, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, James Neesham, Jeetan Patel
