Published: Mar 17, 2017, 02:30 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 17, 2017, 11:10 AM (IST)
Hello, good morning and welcome to CricketCountry’s live cricket blog and updates of the second 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. New Zealand’s top-order as well as their captain Kane Williamson collapsed with single digit scores. However, Henry Nicholls’ maiden Test century came to the home side’s rescue. Reeling at 21 for 3, New Zealand were bundled out for 268. On the other hand, South Africa were tottering at 24 for 2, losing both the openers and trailing by 244 runs. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd Test at Basin Reserve, Wellington
Dean Elgar went for 9 and Stephen Cook for 3 to leave night watchman Kagiso Rabada on eight with Hashim Amla yet to score. Total 12 wickets fell on Day One with Nicholls’ century the only talking point for New Zealand. Nicholls and BJ Watling put up 116-run stand for the sixth wicket. While the game would once again have belonged to Keshav Maharaj with the initial two crucial wickets of Jeet Raval and Jimmy Neesham, JP Duminy bounced back ending with figures of 4 for 47.
Earlier, South African captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and put New Zealand to bat first, noting conditions were ripe for seam and swing and he was not let down by his bowlers.
Meanwhile, South Africa have released all-rounder Chris Morris from the squad. Morris, will be heading back to South Africa as Dane Piedt will join the team as a back-up for the final Test at Hamilton.
