Kiwis toss away any benefits
Kane Williamson had a South African to thank after the New Zealand captain’s call at the toss inadvertently allowed the grateful Proteas to assume control of the series-deciding second test at Centurion.
Had Pretoria-born Neil Wagner not enjoyed a relatively happy homecoming to the ground where he watched cricket growing up, Williamson would have had even more cause to second-guess his decision to bowl first and essentially cede the advantage to counterpart Faf du Plessis on Saturday.
At the close of a day of missed opportunities for the Black Caps at SuperSport Park, South Africa were 283-3 and well set to bat New Zealand out of the contest.
Wagner at least denied volunteer opener Quinton de Kock his second test century and, more importantly, he prevented Hashim Amla amassing another significant score against the Kiwis.
Using his preferred method of short-pitched aggression, Wagner coaxed de Kock to pull straight to Trent Boult just inside the long leg boundary for a belligerent 15-boundary 82.
The earnest left-armer then drew Amla into a rare false when the Proteas leading strokemaker had made 1000 career runs against the Kiwis, and an effortless 58.
Doug Bracewell, Boult and Tim Southee also caused the South Africans anxiety from time with swing and seam movement but the trio were unable to make inroads with the second new ball as the shadows lengthened.
Their partnership was also the Proteas first triple figure contribution by the openers in 34 innings since late 2013 against India in Johannesburg in 2013.
The timing could not have been worse for New Zealand as they strive to win a historic series against South Africa. The weather looks unlikely to come to the Black Caps assistance with a settled forecast.
Cook, a late-blooming 33-yearold who crafted 115 on debut against England at Centurion in January, reached his half century off 112 balls and added only six more before Bracewell - the unlucky bowler when de Kock was dropped - had the right-hander edging to Williamson in the gully.