Published: Mar 10, 2017, 05:53 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 10, 2017, 06:25 AM (IST)
Kane Williamson (111*) scored his 16th Test century to take New Zealand to 247 for 5 against South Africa at the end of the first session on Day three of the first Test at Dunedin. With this century, Williamson is now tied at second position with Ross Taylor for scoring 16 Test centuries in the list of most centuries by New Zealand player, just one behind New Zealand legend Martin Crowe. Wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling is batting alongside his skipper on 20 and the pair have put up a 54-run stand for the 6th wicket. New Zealand are still trailing South Africa’s total of 308 by 61 runs and with the momentum on their side, New Zealand may surpass the total easily in the second session. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD, New Zealand vs South Africa, 1st Test at Dunedin
Resuming from the overnight score of 177 for 3, the hosts had their skipper Williamson and nightwatchman Jeetan Patel batting on 78 and 9 respectively. South Africa started their proceedings with pace due of Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada. After a series of maiden overs, Patel smashed Rabada for a boundary through the covers to start the scoring of the day. Patel playing the typical nightwatchman role tried bashing at anything and everything that was bowled to him.
But Philander struck quickly to remove Patel before he could do much damage to their bowling early on in the game. Philander drew him forward with his length and got a thick edge. Faf du Plessis who was standing at second slip took a blinder at and plucked the ball out of thin air. The skipper jumped high and to grab the ball single-handed catch.
Jimmy Neesham who walked in after Patel’s wicket didn’t last long. Morne Morkel, Rabada and Philander had already bothered the left-hander a lot with their swing and accurate pitching. It was only a matter of time when Morkel bowled a good length delivery which diverged after pitching. Neesham tried to poke his bat and got a managed to get a healthy edge of the ball as it settled in wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock’s gloves. There was a bit of drama involved in this decision if it was a no-ball or not but finally ruling in South Africa’s favour.
Williamson started off on a very cautious note taking an hour to get off the mark on Day Three. But once he started getting runs he grew in confidence pelting almost every Protea bowler with ease and comfort. He did lose 2 partners in the first session, but this partnership with Watling holds a lot of importance for the hosts as a wicket here will open up the Kiwi tail wide against the cunning South African bowling attack.
Brief scores:
South Africa: 308 (Dean Elgar 140, Temba Bavuma 64; Trent Boult 4 for 64, Neil Wagner 3 for 88) lead New Zealand: 247 for 5 (Jeet Raval 52, Kane Williamson 111*, BJ Watling 20*; Keshav Maharaj 2 for 76, Vernon Philander 2 for 43) trail by 61 runs.
