More misses than hits for Black Caps
AN IMPENDING century by Faf du Plessis rubbed salt into the widening New Zealand wounds as South Africa’s grip on the second test tightened last night.
The South African No 6, in his fourth test, rode his luck and made the tourists pay for their decision review system blunder on day one, against Trent Boult when on 42.
Resuming on 325-4, South Africa lost centurymaker Hashim Amla for 110 to give New Zealand some joy in the first hour under leaden skies at St George’s Park.
But du Plessis, resuming on 69, rumbled on and it seemed the horse had bolted for New Zealand, who at times had South Africa on the run on the first day. Just before lunch the hosts moved to 384-5, with du Plessis poised on 99 as he looked to add to his match-saving 110 not out in Adelaide last year.
With the hosts destined for a hefty first innings total and the dry pitch already offering some variable bounce – some staying low and others spitting off the surface – New Zealand’s batsmen faced a huge task to save the test against the pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
It was a vital first two hours for New Zealand after day one when they shone in patches but couldn’t maintain the heat on South Africa’s batsmen. A sub-400 total would have been their first target.
The aftermath of two blunders in the field also loomed large over the tourists after a night’s sleep as Amla and du Plessis made them pay.
Amla was dropped on 48 by Kane Williamson, a tough chance from a searing cut shot, while du Plessis should have been gone on 42. He was given not out, caught down the legside off Boult, and captain Brendon McCullum chose not to go for the decision review system after a long summit meeting.
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du Plessis gloved the ball, so every further run would have twisted the knife as control of the test swung firmly to South Africa.
‘‘I walked past him, I know Faf and he walked past Hashim and said ‘maybe I should rub my side and make it look like it hurt’,’’ du Plessis’s former Pretoria schoolmate Neil Wagner said after day one. ‘‘I thought ‘hang on, did you hit that’, I asked him and he said ‘no’.’’
A whiff of rain in the air meant day two was delayed by 15 minutes and it got under way under heavily overcast skies and cool temperatures, ideal bowling conditions.
Doug Bracewell and Boult gave a better account in the first hour, keeping a tight line and giving away few free hits.
Bracewell continued to be the pick of the bowlers and made his presence felt, literally. In his first over he nipped one back and struck du Plessis amidships, which required a break in play as the pained batsman regained his composure.
Boult wasn’t at his best, but deserved reward after Amla was dropped. He finally snared the South African batting colossus after his 19th test century.
It was a soft ending as Amla flicked at a legside delivery and touched an edge to give BJ Watling his third catch. Amla added just four to his overnight score of 106, batting over six hours and facing 235 deliveries.
New man Dean Elgar was welcomed by Bracewell who struck him a painful blow on the left arm.
And New Zealand made their second DRS error when du Plessis padded up to Wagner on 80. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena turned down the appeal, McCullum reviewed it immediately but suspicions it was outside the line of off stump were soon confirmed.
Elgar, a specialist batsman down at No 7, recovered from the early blow and took to off- spinner Jeetan Patel who’d generated early turn.
Wagner, meanwhile, said it was surreal bowling in his third test to du Plessis and AB de Villiers, his former schoolmates at Afrikaans School for Boys (Affies).
‘‘It is strange in a way, being
in the same dressing room for such long periods, being friends and all of a sudden moving away then playing against him,’’ Wagner said.
‘‘When [du Plessis] got that nick near the end that went for four he just looked at me and apologised. I was a bit angry at that and tried to bump him next ball and he hit me for four too. It’s a good battle and again with Faf, he’s a top player and any bad balls he’s going to capitalise.’’