South Africa embarrass Caps Kohli mocks Aussie review
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 prime. He floated the ball up all day, hoping flight and the odd turner would undo New Zealand’s fragile batting lineup. 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 trying 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 mouth.
When the day started, New 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.
Line and length was all South in his Zealand Africa really offered, bar the occasional wonder-ball from Vernon Philander. Those were too good to hit, as proved by the fact he failed to take a single wicket in the second innings.
Poor shot selection, a lack of patience, and the odd dose of stupidity was what tore through the Black Caps batting line-up.
Raval was the only player who stood up, although he did get some good support from BJ Watling.
Raval’s judgement around the off stump was superb, leaving on line and length. When he looked to score, it was with pulls or cuts off the back foot, shots played safely and with control.
He wasn’t faultless, but stayed true to himself. Raval was dropped twice, by JP Duminy and Stephen Cook, but never looked like throwing his wicket away like his team-mates did.
Maharaj ended up with the second best figures a spinner has taken at the Basin Reserve, snaring 6-40 in 20.2 overs. That took his tally to 13 wickets in the series, in only three innings bowled.
Now the focus will turn to Hamilton, where a spinning wicket is expected but may not be wanted following the Wellington fiasco.
Spin accounted for 12 of New Zealand’s 20 wickets at the Basin Reserve, and only for about an hour were balls starting to turn off the pitch.
Maharaj will be licking his lips at the prospect of a spin-friendly Seddon Park. New Zealand’s batsmen will be having nightmares. Virat Kohli has put himself front and centre into another decision review system storm as tensions between the sides bubbled again in the third test.
Just days after being told by match referee Richie Richardson to make the game the primary focus, the combative India captain could not resist the opportunity to reignite the bitter feud that has soured relations between both countries, mocking Australia for burning their reviews.
A dour first session shifted gears when Australia tried to overturn an appeal for lbw from Stephen O’Keefe to Cheteshwar Pujara.
Third umpire Nigel Llong upheld on-field umpire Chris Gaffaney’s not out verdict after concluding the ball had hit Pujara’s bat first then pad.
Kohli rushed out of the dressing room to the balcony to clap Steve Smith, who had no more reviews up his sleeve.
While it’s unlikely any of Australia’s XI would have seen Kohli’s mocking gesture, the incident was replayed on the big screen.
Kohli’s actions will do little to improve relations between the two fierce rivals, whose boards called a truce last week.
Both nations still feel aggrieved they have been cast in a poor light. The Australians are unhappy Kohli has not provided evidence to support his claims of systematic rorting of the DRS while India believe their captain has been unfairly criticised. Smith has conceded he did the wrong thing.
It was the flashpoint in a frustrating first session for the Australians, who had to wait until the last ball before lunch to land a blow.
Rubbing salt into Australia’s wounds, they were denied a wicket the very next ball after Kohli’s taunt when umpire Ian Gould missed a bat pad chance from Murali Vijay off Nathan Lyon. Australia, however, were powerless to challenge the call. The Sun-Herald