Cracker catch bags captain
Tom Latham’s miraculous snare may be the only wonder the Black Caps are capable of performing in the third test.
To pull off the victory they need to square the three-test series against South Africa in Hamilton, they’d need to beat not only the visitors but the elements – and it’s the latter that is poised to defy New Zealand more.
At stumps on another rainaffected day at Seddon Park on Sunday, the home side were nicely placed at 67 without loss after Quinton de Kock’s bustling 90 pushed South Africa to 314 in their first innings. But the problem for the Black Caps is almost certainly going to be running out of time to impose themselves further.
With wet weather predicted – again – over the next three days, there’s a reason why the TAB has the draw listed at $1.20, which will enable the Proteas to claim the series 1-0.
Black Caps opener Latham pulled off a stunning catch, added another excellent slips snare and then got to 42 not out in an undeniable change in fortune.
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 but could rightfully have been inspired by his exploits in the field.
There was a touch of Derren Brown about Latham, fielding at short square leg, as he read the mind of South African captain Faf du Plessis when on 53. There was also a touch of Samuel Morse from the Proteas skipper, as he telegraphed his lap sweep, allowing Latham to spring to his right, stick out his mitt and haul in a joyful catch.
That left the visitors at 190-6 but wicketkeeper-batsman de Kock helped the tail wag.
In NZ’s reply, 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.
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.
Matt Henry (4-93) and Neil Wagner (3-104) were the home team’s best-performed bowlers in an attack without the injured firstchoice duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
But the big guns in South Africa’s batting arsenal – Hashim Amla, captain Faf du Plessis and chiefly de Kock – ensured the visitors weren’t going to crumble rapidly in their first innings.
New Zealand bowling coach Shane Jurgensen said he was ‘‘really proud’’ of his troops’ efforts.
‘‘Considering no Tim and Trent . . . I thought it was a fantastic effort. Matt Henry, who’s been waiting for an opportunity all summer, he’s presented himself beautifully. He attacked the crease, always asked questions. He’s been bowling well in domestic cricket and he’s brought that up to international cricket.
‘‘Wags [Neil Wagner] was prob- ably a bit frustrated yesterday but again just keeps running in and to grab the last few wickets today was really important.’’
Jurgensen admitted South Africa’s lower order had been troublesome.
‘‘De Kock’s a very good player – his average speaks for itself.
‘‘Their lower order batters, credit to them. They’ve got solid techniques, they got a few away today and we probably didn’t quite execute as well as we wanted too and they got a few boundaries away.
‘‘We didn’t quite get it right after that rain break – which was a shame, because the boys warmed up properly and were ready to go.
‘‘We’ve had a good start – the game’s evenly poised. I think we’re in a good position but still a lot of work to do and maybe more rain around."
The Black Caps may have kept themselves in a decent position by the end of the second day of the third and final cricket test against South Africa in Hamilton, but there was one particular thorn which continued to pierce their hopes - Quinton de Kock.
The Proteas wicketkeeperbatsman was all class with 90 as he guided the visitors to a decent score of 314 at Seddon Park, and at the same time took his test batting average past 50.
Eleven fours and two sixes were struck by the 24-year-old righthander as he pulled and drove the New Zealand bowlers around the park, while also scampering between the stumps, to add some vital lower order runs, which can always be a source of great frustration for a fielding side.
In the end de Kock fell short of a fifth test hundred, but it was his ninth test half century, and followed up his 91 in Wellington, as well as two tons earlier in the summer, against Sri Lanka and Australia.
This latest effort was constructed while on painkillers for a finger tendon injury which had him in doubt for this match, and only made the knock more special, with South Africa’s batting coach Neil McKenzie full of praise for the gutsy stroke-maker, who now averages 50.69, in his 19th test, and is quickly establishing himself as the modern-day Adam Gilchrist.
"Quinton’s a unique player, he knows his game really well for a young guy," McKenzie said, adding that due to the finger issue, de Kock had also been low on practice.
"His workload’s been dropped, hasn’t caught as many balls as he would have liked to, and obviously there’s a few tablets, antiinflammatories, but Quinton doesn’t mind, he just gets on with it, but I definitely see that he’s very uncomfortable.
"He’s just a genuine talent, and he’s had a huge year for us."
Black Caps bowling coach Shane Jurgensen also labelled de Kock "unique", and said his fast hands were his big trait.
"He must have a fantastic eye. He’s just a really dangerous player. His record speaks for itself.
"His role, from T20 to 50-over to test cricket, he basically bats the same way, and puts a lot of pressure back on the bowlers and the fielding team."