Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra struck unbeaten centuries as they added an unbroken 219 for the third wicket as New Zealand compiled a solid 258 for two at stumps on an attritional first day of the first Tegel test against South Africa at a sunny Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
South Africa bowled with good discipline for the first two sessions and they will rue two missed chances that would have significantly improved their fortunes. But after restricting New Zealand to a laboured 125 for two in 52 overs at tea – a run rate of just over two to the over – the tired bowlers faded in the final session as the Kiwi batsmen cut loose to add a further 133 runs in 34 overs.
The South African over rate was slow with only 86 overs being bowled despite the extra half-hour. Part-time left-arm spinner Brand contributed just nine overs with the rest delivered by the pacemen.
Well though they bowled, the South African attack lacked variety and the lack of a specialist spinner such as offspinner Dane Piedt or leggie Shaun von Berg might be telling.
As it was, it was a gruelling day under a burning sun for South Africa’s four-man pace attack, after Brand won the toss and put the opposition into bat. The pitch encouraged some seam and swing movement in the morning session and the Proteas did well to claim the early wickets of Kiwi openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham, with the former trapped leg before in the second over to the first ball delivered in test cricket by Tshepo Moreki. The 30-year-old became the 24th debutant in tests to achieve the feat.
The two dropped chances were both very gettable and both were offered off medium-pacer Ruan de Swardt. The first fell to Edward Moore at cover who shelled an ugly hoick by a frustrated Williamson on 45 that spiralled over his shoulder. The second was a pull by Ravindra, on 80, that Duanne Olivier, running in, was unable to cling onto as he dived forward.
PATIENT WILLIAMSON
No 1 test batsman Williamson went to his 30th test hundred and fourth against South Africa after tea, pulling Moreki for four, to show that patience is an important virtue in test cricket. He was not at his fluent best for much of the day, but he endured, finishing the day on 112 in 259 balls, including 15 fours, many of them pulled and elegantly driven through the covers.
The left-handed Ravindra – clearly a star of the future for New Zealand – generally looked to be more aggressive although he wasn’t always able to pierce the field. He went to his maiden test hundred shortly after Williamson. He finished on 118 off 211 balls including 13 fours and a six.
Aside from Moreki, who beat Williamson’s outside edge a number of times in the morning session, Dane Paterson was particularly impressive in the early going, hardly bowling a bad ball in his first spell of seven overs when he took 1-17. His solo success had the left-handed Latham feeling for a delivery that sliced across him, the ball just taking the outside edge on its way to wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin, one of six debutants in the South African team.
The only other wicket to fall was that of South Africa-born Conway. Moreki’s first delivery was a beauty, swinging into the left-hander on a good length before crashing into his front pad as he was caught on the crease. Short of runs this season, Conway didn’t even review umpire Richard Kettleborough’s easy decision.
Paceman Olivier acknowledged afterwards that it had been a tough day and that he might be a "bit stiff" the next day.
“Fair play to Kane and Rachin, they batted very well. I thought we bowled well for the first two sessions but then let it slip a bit after tea. We also dropped two catches, myself included, so things could have been a little different. But we are where we are,” said Olivier after the close of play. The pacemen said he was “very happy” for teammate Moreki who claimed a wicket with his first ball in test cricket.
NEW ZEALAND: Tim Southee (capt), Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry
SOUTH AFRICA: Neil Brand (capt), Edward Moore, Raynard van Tonder, Zubayr Hamza, David Bedingham, Keegan Petersen, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin (wk), Duanne Olivier, Tshepo Moreki, Dane Paterson