Cracker catch bags captain
Things finally went right for Tom Latham.
The Black Caps opener pulled off a stunning catch, added another excellent slips snare and then got to 42 not out as New Zealand ended day two of the third cricket test against South Africa in Hamilton at 67 without loss in their first innings.
That left them 247 behind the Proteas’ first innings of 314 with all 10 wickets in hand and three days remaining in the final match of the three-test series.
Unfortunately for the hosts, rain is forecast to feature heavily on Monday after also reducing play over the weekend, and a draw still seems the most likely outcome, leaving the tourists 1-0 series winners.
But there was undeniably a change in fortune for the lefthanded Latham, who faced 82 balls before bad light ended the day. A lack of runs while also dealing with the wicketkeeping duties in the one-day series against the tourists followed Latham into the test arena - he’d managed just 24 runs in his first three innings before coming to Seddon Park.
He could rightfully have been inspired by his exploits in the field.
South African skipper Faf du Plessis had got to 53 during the first session before he played a premediated lap shot to a ball in Mitchell Santner’s first over. Latham, fielding at short square leg, saw it coming and moved sharply to his right, stuck out his right hand and hauled in the catch.
That left the visitors at 190-6 but wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock made an invaluable 90 to prove much more than mere nuisance value to the hosts.
De Kock - who had to pass a late fitness test to take his place after being bothered by a tendon injury in the index finger of his right hand - struck 11 fours and two sixes before being ninth out.
Sunshine greeted the players at the start of play but rain early in the second session again limited play as it did on day one, when only 41 overs were possible.
Du Plessis had earlier reached his 12th half-century in 39 tests from 94 balls and Kagiso Rabada helped deny NZ with his best test score of 34 at No 10, while Matt Henry (4-93) and Neil Wagner (3-104) were the home team’s bestperformed bowlers.
Latham twice came out on the right side of two DRS moments - he quickly and correctly protested being given out caught behind when on 1 in the first over of NZ’s reply when the ball only clipped his pad, and soon after survived a South African challenge to an lbw appeal turned down off Morne Morkel.
His fellow opener Jeet Raval was again disciplined as he reached stumps unbowed on 25 off 71 deliveries in NZ’s best opening stand so far against South Africa since March 2012.