PHOTOSPORT

Draw declared

Posted Saturday, 25 March, 2017 in Match Reports

Day Five of the Third ANZ Test v South Africa in Hamilton

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Day four
In Short
Another superb day of all round cricket by the BLACKCAPS has them on the cusp of a first Test victory over South Africa in 13 years.

The Proteas will resume day five at 80 for 5, still trailing by 95 runs, with their crucial pairing of Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock at the crease on 15 not out.


Earlier on day four, a polished 176 from captain Kane Williamson and cameos from Mitchell Santner (41) and Colin de Grandhomme (57) helped the hosts post 489 for a 175 run first innings lead.

The bowlers then backed up their batsmen with a scintillating final session which featured a Jeetan Patel double strike and a dramatic run out.

Start of play day five: 10.30am
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Steady start
Resuming at 321-4, Kane Williamson and Mitchell Santner played patiently to see out the first hour. Their partnership extended to 88 as the lead stretched past 50. Williamson was doing most of the scoring and although it was a slow stand it provided a good base to launch the days batting from.

Kane-train chugs on
The BLACKCAPS captain picked up where he left off from day three, quickly raising his 150 with a classical cut to the point sweeper. It was Williamson's fifth time past the mark and he looked to be set to go even bigger. That thought perished in the hands of Vernon Philander, as Williamson picked him out on the fine leg fence hooking Morne Morkel. Dejected he was, but his effort would make up the BLACKCAPS entire eventual lead bar one run!


Colin capitalises 
With the BLACKCAPS lead beyond 100, it was the perfect time for Colin de Grandhomme to arrive at the crease. Coming in at eight, de Grandhomme had a license to play his naturally dynamic game and made the most of the opportunity with a controlled yet entertaining 57 from 70. Initially watchful, the power of the ‘Big House’ soon came to entertain, crunching two sixes and five fours enroute to his maiden Test half-century. An encouraging milestone for the allrounder and a significant knock in the context of the match. 

A hefty advantage

Williamson’s masterclass, alongside crucial contributions from Santner and de Grandhomme, saw the BLACKCAPS reach 489 all out just before tea was due. Boasting a first-innings lead of 175, the BLACKCAPS would have 39 overs left to make as many inroads into the South Africa top order as possible. They would be fruitful. 

Two batsmen down, one out

A moment of mayhem brought about the second wicket of South Africa. After de Grandhomme got rid of Elgar for the third time in a row, debutant de Bruyne and Hashim Amla took over the mission of keeping South Africa’s hope alive. Unfortunately for de Bruyne, his role with the bat would be cut short by a calamitous run-out. Amla pushed one down the ground for a single, but with both players watching the ball, the two teammates ran into one another and both hit the deck hard. Williamson tossed the ball to BJ Watling, who scrambled to catch de Bruyne well short of his crease. Unusual, yet very beneficial for the BLACKCAPS. 

Top order topples 

With both openers gone, the BLACKCAPS were humming along nicely and Jeetan Patel added to the excitement with a double-strike. An edge from Amla saw the star number three depart, before Duminy shouldered arms to a beautifully flighted delivery and turned to see his off-stump rocked. Matt Henry gave BLACKCAPS fans more reason to cheer  with the wicket of Temba Bavuma - the number five enticed into a fine edge through to BJ Watling. Five down, five to go.
 

A golden chance

The BLACKCAPS will return to Seddon Park with a fantastic opportunity to claim their first Test victory against South Africa since 2004. Five wickets stand between the BLACKCAPS and a tied Test series - we’ll get the answers at Seddon Park on Wednesday!

 

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Day Three
In Short
Records tumbled and milestones were ticked off as the BLACKCAPS batted all 78 overs available on day three to to hit stumps at 321-4, a lead of seven runs.

Scorecard

Captain Kane Williamson lead the charge with his 17th Test ton, equalling Martin Crowe’s century record and in the process becoming the fastest Kiwi to 5,000 Test runs. 

He was ably supported by opener Jeet Raval (88 off 254 balls). The pair piling on a record second wicket partnership against South Africa of 190 runs.

The Proteas would make three late strikes to give them some hope but the BLACKCAPS still have six wickets in hand to try and build their lead on day four.

What weather-bomb?
The forecast was dire for day three with rain and thunder storms predicted for Hamilton. Thankfully they missed Seddon Park. Ground staff only had to deal with an early morning downpour which saw them delay the start of play by one hour and half until midday to allow for drying.

Important runs
24-year-old opener Tom Latham continued his impressive Test by notching his 13th half century. The left hander peeled off 10 fours in his 103 ball knock and laid a crucial 83 run platform with Jeet Raval.

Record stand
The breakthrough of Latham gave the South African seamers a much needed sniff. That sniff was quickly snuffed out by the patience of Raval and the pure class of Williamson. The pair piled on a record second wicket partnership against South Africa of 190 runs. The stoic stand ensures the BLACKCAPS can focus solely on victory as they push forward into the final two days of the Test.

Frustration
After their dominant performance with the ball in Wellington, things did not go to script for the South African bowling attack on day three in Hamilton. Their was much scrutiny of the ball, a warning for throwing into the block and finally a ball change during a frustrating 78.3 overs.

King Kane
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Kane Williamson is clearly not insane. The BLACKCAP runs machine etched more impressive marks in his glittering career book on Monday. He firstly became the fastest New Zealander to reach 5,000 Test runs, taking 110 innings to reach the mark, seven fewer than Martin Crowe. He then joined Crowe on 17 Test centuries. A genius, a freak - and he's showing no signs of slowing down.

Late strikes
To their credit, South Africa toiled hard all day and they received some late rewards. Morne Morkel made the breakthrough by removing Raval with one that nipped back and took the inside edge and once again found the safe single mitt of Quinton de Kock. Kagiso Rabada then knocked over Neil Broom and Henry Nicholls in consecutive deliveries (but different overs). 3-20 fell to shed some light on a pretty gloomy day for the Proteas.

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Day Two
In short
The BLACKCAPS carry a slight advantage heading into day three of the second ANZ Test against South Africa at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Career best figures of 4-94 by paceman Matt Henry and three late wickets from Neil Wagner helped dismiss the visitors for 314, just after an early tea on a rain effected day two.

Tom Latham (42*) and Jeet Raval (25*) then put on an undefeated 67 run opening stand to see the hosts into a strong position at stumps.

Scorecard

Welcome back
Matt Henry backed up his strong opening day by doubling his wicket tally to four before lunch. The Canterbury pace bowler picked up the dangerous Temba Bavuma hooking for 29 to get the day started and returned to remove Vernon Philander (11) late in the first session. Despite being a revelation in one day internationals, Henry's had a challenging start to the Test game and today's Test best of 4-93 will do him no end of good. 

Thorn in side
South African captain Faf du Plessis again did what he's done so well this tour - glue the visitors innings together. His 12th Test half century was another mixture of class and cageyness as he negotiated the seaming ball and built two 50+ partnerships through the middle to steady the South African ship.

Latham brilliance
Need we say more? The anticipation, the skill and the execution + the big wicket of du Plessis. Tom Latham take a bow.

Counter punch
Quinton de Kock was at his dangerous best on day two. The aggressive left hander frustrated the Kiwi bowlers as he breezed his way to his ninth Test half century. He flayed 11 fours and two sixes on his way to 90 before he fell to Neil Wagner with a third Test ton in sight.

Wagner's way
The indefatigable Neil Wagner again got in on the act despite perhaps not being at his best. He first picked up Keshav Maharaj to keep in tact his perfect record of taking a wicket in every Test he's played - currently at 32. From there he claimed the big wicket of de Kock and then finished off the South African innings on 314, to finish with figures of 3-104.

Digging in
Tom Latham and Jeet Raval walked out with 29 overs to bat on day two and went to work laying a serious platform. On a seaming wicket they expertly managed to nullify the potent threats of the South African pacemen. Scoring at little over one run an over to begin, the pair blunted the Protea's new ball attack before pushing on to stump at 67-0. Quintessential opening batting!

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Day one 

In short
Only 41 overs could be bowled on a weather affected opening day at Seddon Park, but it was enough time to see the BLACKCAPS claim four South African wickets.

The returning Matt Henry took the new ball with Colin de Grandhomme and the pair removed both Protea openers before picking up another wicket each to have the visitors 123-4 when the rain came.

Scorecard

Play was eventually abandoned at 5:50pm local time and day two is scheduled to start half an hour earlier at 10:30am with 100 overs to be bowled in the day ... weather dependent!

How it happened
Slow start
Despite the pitch covers being off at 6am (according to groundsman KJ), morning drizzle ensured they were kept busy right up until the delayed toss at 11 o'clock. 

250 not out
The voice of the Kiwi summer - radio commentator Bryan Waddle was honoured ahed of his 250th Test behind the microphone. His 36 year career in cricket has taken him to all corners of the globe and seen him call most of the significant moments in New Zealand Cricket history. BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson honoured the occasion by presenting 'Wads' with a newly minted plaque to mark the milestone and lead a round of applause from the team.

Another toss loss for Nos
"It's actually quite unbelievable", Williamson exclaimed after losing his eighth consecutive toss, he even quipped that he would have batted, but knew he would not get the option! As it was, Faf du Plessis decided to bat on a patchy, grass covered surface. Thesis de Bruyn came in for Stephen Cook, while the Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry returned for the BLACKCAPS in place of Jimmy Neesham and the injured Tim Southee.

5-2
Matt Henry marked his first Test of 2017 with the wicket of de Bruyn in the third over of play. It was genuine new ball spitter off a good length which took the outside edge and flew to Tom Latham at second slip. Colin de Grandhomme would chip in next over by removing Dean Elgar with a hooping in-swinger which came back to take the top of the left hander's unguarded stumps. Both openers gone. Great start for the hosts.

Amla comes alive
After a sleepy tour by the great right hander's standards, Hashim Amla found his form on day one of the third ANZ Test. He drove with precision from the get go and had his trademark leg side flicks firing as he breezed to his 32nd Test 50. Ironically it would be the trademark leg glance which would be Amla's undoing as he played all over a full and straight one for de Grandhomme's second wicket.

Two for Henry
Using his extra yard of pace Henry was able to get the better of JP Duminy on 20 before lunch. A short fast delivery was onto the left hander in a hurry and saw him top edge it straight down Jeetan Patel's throat at fine leg to make it 64-3.

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