South Africa had their noses in front – but no more than that – as they reached 140 for five – an overall lead of 211 – in their second innings at stumps on the third day of an enthralling second test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday.
A superb unbeaten 120 from New Zealand allrounder Colin de Grandhomme had earlier enabled New Zealand to compile 293 in their first innings, giving South Africa a first-innings lead of 71. When they batted again, the visitors battled to extend that advantage against some tight bowling as well as a passionate spell of 2/34 in nine intense overs from New Zealand’s indefatigable left-arm seamer, Neil Wagner.
At the crease for the Proteas at the close were their last pair of specialist batsmen, Kyle Verreynne (22 in 59 balls) and Wiaan Mulder (10 in 42 balls) who have so far added 26 for the sixth wicket after their team lost the top half of their batting for 114.
The Proteas will know that the pitch is still good for batting and that they will want to set a target of at least 300 to give themselves a good chance of victory on a pitch that has a reputation of not deteriorating very much over the five days.
When the Proteas batted again, Tim Southee quickly accounted for the opening pair of Sarel Erwee (8) and Dean Elgar (13), the former trapped leg before to an inswinger and the latter superbly caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off an outside edge. Aiden Markram, who looked in good form, was then yorked by Matt Henry to leave the Proteas on a parlous 38 for three.
Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma contributed a gutsy 65 for the fourth wicket with Van der Dussen and Wagner having a personal battle with the latter bowling a succession of tempting bouncers. Van der Dussen took up the challenge, at one stage pulling two boundaries and a two in successive deliveries before being dropped by De Grandhomme at square leg.
Wagner’s disappointment didn’t last long, however, as he finally got Van der Dussen to play a false stroke to yet another bouncer that he looped back to the bowler who dived forward to take the catch.
And when Bavuma, who had looked composed, drove Wagner straight to extra-cover shortly afterwards, the match was on an even keel again before Verreynne and Mulder held firm to give South Africa a slight edge.
TEMPO CHANGED
"We're reasonably happy, not entirely happy," said Van der Dussen, adding that a lead of 270-280 would put South Africa in a strong position.
"The main thing is the ball swings, that's the biggest challenge."
But New Zealand believed that sort of target would be achievable.
"It's still a good batting wicket," said De Grandhomme. "If they set 270 we'll definitely back ourselves to get it."
De Grandhomme added there was nothing special about his innings in the conditions.
"It was a pretty good wicket so there wasn't too much to worry about, just see the ball, hit the ball," he said.
Earlier, it looked like New Zealand might get even closer to South Africa’s first-innings total of 364. Resuming on their overnight total of 157 for five, De Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell looked in no bother as they scored at a run-a-ball for the first hour.
But the introduction of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj changed the tempo in South Africa’s favour with the tourists restricting the flow of runs and picking up two wickets in the second hour. Varying his pace cleverly and drifting the ball into the right-hand batsmen, he introduced a note of caution and occasional uncertainty.
TOP SCORE
Shortly after the drinks break Maharaj made the breakthrough. Having just delivered a slow, flighted delivery that turned away from Mitchell, his next ball was faster, drifting into the batsman who was trapped plumb lbw. His 60 in 134 balls included eight fours and his sixth-wicket partnership of 133 in 224 balls with De Grandhomme was a New Zealand record against South Africa.
After his fluent start, De Grandhomme, who has never been dismissed in the 90s in first-class cricket, was finding it tougher to eke out the runs but he eventually went to his second test hundred after battling for 48 minutes in the 90s. The allrounder, who played with great good sense and determination, struck 12 fours and three sixes in his 158-ball innings. It was his second ton for his country and his top score.
De Grandhomme might have hoped for more support from the tail after lunch, which New Zealand took on 253 for seven, but Southee (5) and Matt Henry (0) perished to rash shots and even Wagner, who struck a useful 21 in 18 balls, holed out on the boundary unnecessarily.
Sometimes bold cricket can cross the line towards irresponsibility and although New Zealand scored at a healthy run-rate of 3.66 runs to the over compared to South Africa’s 2.73 in their first innings, they will know that too many of their batsmen gave their wickets away.
It all resulted in an 11th five-wicket haul for Kagiso Rabada (5/60 in 19 overs), while Marco Jansen claimed 4/98. Although Wagner collared left-arm spinner Maharaj for a six and a four in his final over, his spell (1/46 in 16 overs) was valuable to the Proteas, pegging the Kiwis back after a free-flowing start to the day. Maharaj also broke the dangerous sixth-wicket partnership by trapping Mitchell leg before and he will be a key figure over the last two days as the Proteas big to square the series.
NEW ZEALAND: Tom Latham (capt), Will Young, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry
SOUTH AFRICA: Dean Elgar (capt), Sarel Erwee, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lutho Sipamla