India capitulate
South Africa beat top-ranked India by 72 runs in the first cricket test yesterday, dismissing the best side in the world for just 135 on the fourth day at Newlands. India’s defeat on a seam-friendly track in Cape Town underlined the doubts over the No 1 side’s ability to win on green strips away from home. South Africa seamer Vernon Philander sealed a low-scoring game with his 6-42 in the second innings, hastening India’s demise when he took three wickets in four balls to end the game. India made 209 in the first innings, while South Africa scored 286 and 130.
Play had been brought to a halt at 4.20pm with the Black Caps pacing along at 64-2 despite losing in-form opener Colin Munro for a duck and skipper Kane Williamson for 19.
The game was evenly poised when Guptill and Taylor ran for shelter in the 14th over but the experienced pair made a mockery of the run chase, with Guptill reaching his 33rd half century in a game-high 87 from 72 while Taylor chipped in with 44.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Pakistan were put under immediate pressure by Trent Boult and Tim Southee but a late flurry from two of their tail-enders saw the visitors finish chalk up a respectable total of 246-9.
Pakistan were without injured Fakhar Zaman, who scored 82 not out in the first match at the Basin Reserve, and the talented opener’s absence was certainly felt early on as Fakhar’s replacement, Imam ulHaq, was caught for two, while fellow opener Azhar Ali soon followed his team-mate when he was dismissed for six.
Veteran allrounder Mohammad Hafeez (60 from 71) offered some much-needed resistance in the middle of the order before Hasan Ali (51 from 31) and Shadab Khan (52 from 68) combined for a blistering 70-run partnership as Pakistan raced through to 246 - an under par total but one they would have backed themselves to defend.
Hasan survived a blow on the chin from a fierce Lockie Ferguson delivery to reach his maiden half century remarkable, while Shadab capped off a superb day’s work by taking a ripper of a catch to dismiss Williamson.
Although every New Zealand bowler except Munro took at least one wicket, Ferguson was clear standout, the Black Caps’ quick ending up with the decent figures of 3-39.
Attention now turns to University Oval in Dunedin where allrounder Colin de Grandhomme will rejoin the Black Caps for game three after he was granted leave following the sudden death of his father in Zimbabwe last month. He will replace George Worker in the only change to the squad.