Published: Mar 09, 2017, 06:02 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 09, 2017, 06:45 PM (IST)
New Zealand trail South Africa by 131 with 7 wickets in hand in the first Test at Dunedin. The hosts have their captain Kane Williamson (78*) playing a leader’s knock. Williamson has the company of nightwatchman Jeetan Patel (9). Tom Latham (10), Jeet Raval (52) and Henry Nicholls (12) were the Kiwi batsmen who got out. Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner are the known batsmen who can score valuable runs in time of distress. But the opposition is not an easy one. New Zealand are perhaps facing one of the toughest opposition in recent times who are capable enough to destroy their home dominance in Tests; having already done exactly that in 50-over format. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: New Zealand vs South Africa, 1st Test at Dunedin
Williamson is more or less fighting a lone battle. Williamson showed why he is the one of the best batsmen in the world. He knew where, when and how to use his feet, had the perfect knowledge of where his off-stump was while facing the South African pacers. He found a good partner in Raval, but the opening batsman did not last long despite getting the perfect start. The Raval-Williamson duo scored 102 runs to lay a strong foundation. But the batsmen for whom the foundation was laid, departed against the run of play.
Ross Taylor limped off the field injuring his calf muscle. This was the major setback for hosts as the past is evident — ‘repairing and amassing runs work’ has been done by Taylor and Williamson many a times. Keeping this mind, South Africa will definitely want to target the New Zealand middle-order given the uncertainty over Taylor’s involvement tomorrow.
Neesham was selected over Colin de Grandhomme who had been in and out for in the recent ODI series. So this is a call of duty for Neesham who will have to act as the supporting pillar to at least curb the 131-run total. Wicketkeeper-batsman Watling had a forgetful match behind the stumps dropping Dean Elgar on 36, who added more 104 to his total to take the game away from hosts. Watling will be expected to make up for the costly miss.
Going by the trend in the past two days, wickets have come easy in the first session, and gradually reduced as the day progresses. Faf du Plessis is a smart leader and he would have noticed this pattern. Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel will be the key to South Africa domination. These three need to draw a leaf from Neil Wagner and Trent Boult’s books. Wagner and Boult shared 7 wickets together; hence the South African trio will want to get into the rhythm rather quickly and rattle the Kiwis’ fightback.
Rabada and Morkel relied mostly on pace, with the former being the quicker among the two. Rabada and Morkel, however, need to bowl in right areas especially at that length where the ball bounced more against the batsman’s anticipation.
Philander, was without any doubt the best bowler for South Africa. He swung the ball and varied his pace and he will have to emulate the same in the first spell on Day Three. The priority for South Africa would definitely be the priceless wicket of Williamson. If the visitors crack through the Williamson code, half the battle could be won for them in this innings.
Keshav Maharaj was milked by Williamson once he got going in the third session of the day. Again, the apt use of feet worked wonders for the Kiwi skipper against Maharaj. It will be very important that the pace trio lets the ball talking as quickly as they can on the third morning; and if any amount of reverse swing obtained, Rabada, Philander and Morkel can ruin Williamson’s day two heroics.
Brief scores:
South Africa: 308 (Dean Elgar 140, Temba Bavuma 64; Trent Boult 4 for 64, Neil Wagner 3 for 88) lead New Zealand: 177 for 3 (Jeet Raval 52, Kane Williamson 78*; Keshav Maharaj 2 for 57, Vernon Philander 1 for 37) trail by 131 runs.
