Day Four
A career best 76 from BLACKCAPS rookie Henry Nicholls wasn’t enough to stave off defeat in the second Test against South Africa at Centurion.
The hosts batted for an hour into day four before declaring at 132-7, setting a formidable 400 run target.
A brutal opening spell from Dale Steyn helped reduce the BLACKCAPS to 7-4 and despite Nicholls combining well with BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner and Doug Bracewell, the chase eventually came to an end at 195, with Nicholls the last man out.
The 204 run defeat sees the BLACKCAPS leave their African tour with two victories, a draw and a loss.
The squad will have a week or so at home before departing for a three Test series against India on September 11th.
Numbers
3 ducks in the top four for the BLACKCAPS
11 spot on the all time Test wicket takers list for Dale Steyn, overtaking Wasim Akram
26.3 overs is how long the BLACKCAPS fifth wicket stand lasted. Previous four had all fallen inside three overs.
56 plays and misses in the South Africa first-innings (average is 18 per innings)
112 aggregate runs for Henry Nicholls in the match
1982 was the last time a bowler dismissed both batsman for a gold duck in the same innings
Blood, sweat and tears
Nicholls. Finding himself out in the middle at 7-4 with a rampant Steyn and Rabada in full flight would be tough on the most experienced of batsman, but for a relative fresh face it could only be described as a baptism of fire. Nicholls showed he could cope with the heat, resisting until he was eventually the final wicket to fall to Steyn. Gutsiest of knocks.
With the bat
Spinner Dan Piet was a handful on day four with the ball turning out of the cracks, but he was given one over to forget in the final session. It started with a beautiful lofted drive from a dancing Nicholls, climaxed with a massive six down the grounds from Bracewell and concluded with a slash through backward point for four from Nicholls once again. Overall, 16 from it.
With the ball
Simply put, Dale Steyn was world class this match. Coming back from injury, the nasty nasty lived up to his name, bowling with pace and skill to knock the top of the BLACKCAPS in each innings, ultimately finishing with 8 for 99. A class act, who at 33 years old is far from done.
Why Test cricket isn’t boring
While the result certainly wasn’t what the BLACKCAPS were hoping for, this match delivered on entertainment. Both captains said as much and made it clear they would have been keen on a couple more Tests!
Quirk
It’s not often a back of a length ball at 140 kmph hits a batsman on the ankle. That’s what happened to Ross Taylor on naught off Dale Steyn and it was literally an unplayable ball. Up went umpire Gould’s finger and off walked Taylor. Possibly the best ball he will ever face.
Quote
“The first innings was hugely influential in the winning and losing of the match. They played very well, but we still felt that there was enough in the wicket to bowl them out for a below par total.” - Kane Williamson post Test.
Day Three
South Africa may still have the upper-hand, but the BLACKCAPS will be pleased with their bowling effort in South Africa’s second innings, reducing them to 105 for 6 at stumps.
The hosts started the day by restricting the BLACKCAPS to 214, securing a 267 run first-innings lead. Captain Kane Williamson had willed his team to that point with a defiant 77, but with five of the top seven dismissed in single figures, the visitors were left chasing the game.
South Africa opted not to enforce the follow and looked to add to their total, but were challenged by inspired performance from the BLACKCAPS bowling attack.
Trent Boult and Tim Southee took two apiece early on, with Neil Wagner and Doug Bracewell nabbing one each before the close of play. It leaves South Africa 105-6 and a lead of 373 runs heading into day four.
Two days left and plenty of fight required from the BLACKCAPS.
Numbers
3 wickets in nine balls for the BLACKCAPS early in South Africa’s second innings
5 scores of 50 or more in the last six innings for Williamson - the other being 2 not out last Test
50 wickets at Supersport Park for Dale Steyn
251 is the highest fourth innings total at Supersport Park (England 2000)
Blood, sweat and tears
The New Zealand skipper. Looked capable of batting all day in the first session, but couldn’t find a partner to go with him. He was eventually the final man out after 133 balls, but some of that can certainly be put down trying to accelerate with a number 11 at the other end.
Shot of the day
A pristine Kane Williamson drive down the ground for four. Williamson merely leant forward on the full Rabada delivery, delicately pushing it back down the pitch to the boundary rope. Some sort of shot.
Ball of the day
Spare a thought for Mitchell Santner, who received a pearler from Vernon Philander on nought. Steep bounce off a good length and some late shape inwards drew Santner into playing, but only managed an aside edge onto his middle stump. Handy delivery to a new batsman.
Late nomination: Tim Southee’s beautiful out-swinger which accounted for Hashim Amla - caught at second slip.
Why Test cricket isn’t boring
Because the lion-hearted Neil Wagner is playing. Brings a blazing inferno of fire, whether he has the ball, is in the field, or wielding the bat. Took one Steyn over for 20, including a massive six over mid-wicket. Never takes a backward step. Great man to have on your side.
Quirk
A fleet of army tanks stationed on the bank isn’t a common sight in Test cricket, but that’s what you’ll see on the east side of the ground. Un-nerving or something to make the crowd feel more secure? Difficult to say.
Quote
"I don't think taking 50 wickets at a ground is special. I don't think it's special at all, being able to contribute is special."
- Some Dale Steyn honesty post day three!
Day Two
A Neil Wagner five wicket haul couldn’t prevent South Africa cementing their position in the box seat of the second test at Centurion, after the hosts amassed 481-8 declared in the first innings and nabbed three late wickets.
Scorecard
A century from Faf du Plessis was the focal point of South Africa’s accumulation of runs on day two, as the stand in skipper worked his way to an unbeaten 112 from 234 balls, before declaring with 22 overs until stumps.
Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander accounted for both BLACKCAP openers, before Ross Taylor was run out, leaving captain Kane Williamson and youngster Henry Nicholls to survive until close with the scoreboard 38 for three.
Numbers
2 times in South African Test cricket history that the top five all scored half-centuries
4 career five-wicket-bags for Wagner
5 Test centuries for Faf Du Plessis
39 overs across two days for Neil Wagner
Blood, sweat and tears
The first 30 runs du Plessis scored wouldn’t be described as flowing, but in similar fashion to the first Test, he showed tremendous patience and perseverance to reach the total he did. 225 balls after entering his home ground, he was rewarded with a century and celebrated accordingly.
Shot of the day
An elegant one-footed front foot drive from Du Plessis looked effortless as it screamed back past bowler Doug Bracewell to the boundary. Beautiful balance and well worth four runs.
Honourable mention: Just before declaring, Dale Steyn hit back-to-back sixes, the first of which went onto the roof of the stand over long on. The boundaries might be small, but that strike certainly wasn’t.
Ball of the day
As a bowler there are few better sights in cricket than seeing a stump go cart-wheeling back. Vernon Philander has done it to one or two batsmen in his time, but saw his own pole fly when Wagner slipped one through his off dive to send his off-stump somersaulting. One of a couple of highlights for Wagner in the innings.
In the field
Doug Bracewell pulled off a special diving catch at fine leg to dismiss Bavumba. The top edge from a Wagner short ball toyed with Bracewell the whole way as he raced in from fine leg before launching himself forward to take a superb diving grab.
Why Test cricket isn’t boring
There was a cooking competition on the middle of the field during the lunch break.
Quirk
Without fail, at least a few times every Test the game is held up by someone getting in the way of the sight-screen. Common culprits are a mis-guided punter or poorly positioned security guard, but a new villain was born on Sunday, with a pair of pesky pigeons repeatedly distracting skipper Kane Williamson. Perched on the vacant white chairs behind the sight screen, the duo made a good nuisance of themselves on a regular basis late on day two. With the initial polite request for them to move ignored, much arm-flapping ensued to encourage them to another seat.
Quote
“Neil’s been outstanding for a long period of time but he’s probably only just reaping the rewards now. He makes things happen from nothing, he keeps running in and as the day goes on almost gets quicker. He keeps giving to the team, he’ll never give up and he’ll do anything for this side.” Tim Southee on Neil Wagner.
Day One
After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the BLACKCAPS couldn’t take a trick on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa in Pretoria.
The opening session saw deliveries beat the bat, edges fly into gaps, appeals turned down and 100 runs notched up by the home openers.
Back on his home ground of Centurion, Neil Wagner (22-4-51-2) made the break through after lunch, removing the imperious Quentin de Kock for 82. His partner Stephen Cook would also eventually fall to a catch in the gully off Doug Bracewell.
The South African top four batsmen all went past 50 and JP Duminy (67) and Proteas captain Faf du Plessis (13) helped the hosts to 283/3 from 88 overs at stumps.
It was certainly ‘one of those days’ for Kane Williamson and his men who had two LBW decisions overturned and two LBW appeals given not out, despite hawk-eye telling otherwise.
The BLACKCAPS will be chasing early wickets on day two and will take hope from the chances they created on day one, along with the amount of life still in the pitch and the state of the second new ball.
Numbers
2 the key number for Wagner. Bowled 22 overs for two wickets at 2.31 run an over #superb
4 LBW decisions that did not go the BLACKCAPS way
4 consecutive fifties for Hashim Amla at Centurion
16 overs bowled before Mitchell Santner was brought into the attack on the first morning #earlyroll
62 empty beers cups joined together to create a decent beer snake on the embankment late in the second session
133 South Africa’s opening partnership between Quentin de Kock and Stephen Cook
2013 the last time this many runs were scored by a South African opening pair
Blood, sweat and tears
Back where it all began, Neil Wagner was tireless on his former home ground, charging in and looking threatening all day. Bowled the most overs, created the most chances, had the best economy rate – Wagner the lion-heart was impressive.
Shot of the day
Hashim Amla’s jumping upper cut for six off Tim Southee in the third session. The 33-year-old waited beautifully on a well directed Southee bouncer, leaping with both feet off the ground to chop it over the slips and over the boundary. Wasn’t a classic Test shot, but it was poetry to watch.
Ball of the day
Tim Southee bowled an absolute peach to Stephen Cook which did everything but take the top of of stump. It was a lovely shaping out swinger, which started on middle and leg, swung and nipped ohh so close to off stump. A coat of varnish or a bees dick in it as they say.
Why Test cricket isn’t boring
Shear amount of action – Sixes, fours, edges, catches, appeals, over-turned decisions, boundaries, edges through slips, dropped catches, mexican waves in the crowd. BLACKCAPS would have loved a couple more wickets, but it certainly was not a dull day of Test cricket.
Quirk
Fancy a dip at the cricket? The Castle Corner pool has you covered. Came very much in handy on a sunny Saturday below the bar.
