Black Caps well and truly skittled
FORTUNATELY for Mike Hesson, a stomach bug meant he wasn’t there in person to watch New Zealand’s embarrassing effort at the Basin Reserve yesterday.
In a match leaning narrowly in South Africa’s favour at the start of the day, the Black Caps made sure the seesaw swung firmly in the Proteas favour with a dire batting performance on day three of the second test.
Had Hesson been at the ground, you could argue his stomach would have felt worse as New Zealand were defeated by eight wickets, South Africa chasing just 81 for victory.
Instead, the coach watched through the television in his hotel room as he remained behind a self-imposed cordon. It was a good day to call in sick.
Hashim Amla ended on 38 not out in guiding South Africa to victory, after his side requested an extra half hour to finish things off.
New Zealand slumped to 171 all out in their second innings. After handing a lead of 91 to South Africa with some disappointing bowling to tailender Morne Morkel, the batsmen failed to show.
Only two batsmen could claim they were out thanks to good bowling, in Kane Williamson and Neil Broom. Jeet Raval fought hard but gave chances in his best test effort, while the rest embarrassed themselves.
Raval worked hard throughout and was rewarded with 80 from 174 balls, but even he was dropped twice. Where Raval showed a hunger for battle, the rest of the top six didn’t.
They combined for 38 runs as Morkel ran through the top order, and Keshav Maharaj made the most of a wicket that started to turn, taking six wickets.
Maharaj is hardly Shane Warne in his pomp.
He floated the ball up all day, hoping flight and the odd turner would undo New Zealand’s fragile batting line-up.
His hopes paid off though as New Zealand showed how not to play spin with a series of poor dismissals.
There was Henry Nicholls, playing a sweep shot onto his stumps from a metre outside off. Jimmy Neesham picked out Faf du Plessis at mid-wicket, just five balls into his innings, while try- GETTY IMAGES ing to loft over the top.
Colin de Grandhomme went back to a ball which landed where most batsmen take guard and was bowled.
Hesson would have thrown up in his mouth.
When the day started, New Zealand were in the hunt.
South Africa had a decent lead but day three was supposed to be the best for batting.
But what followed was a series of dismissals which call into question New Zealand’s ability to bat time.
Poor shot selection, a lack of patience, and the odd dose of stupidity was what tore through the Black Caps batting line-up.