There’s still plenty of time for result
Batting coach Craig McMillan, rapt with New Zealand’s work through an awkward new ball period yesterday, knows they have to do it all over again when the second test against Pakistan resumes at Seddon Park today.
Only 21 overs were possible because of rain, in which New Zealand reached 77 for two. The battle will resume with the pitch still heavily favouring the seamers today.
There’s a bit of pressure on Pakistan, too. They have omitted their world- class legspinner Yasir Shah in favour of a fourth seamer.
Even allowing for the greenness and seaming properties of the pitch yesterday and most likely today, it’s a big punt to leave Yasir out.
Only one bowler has been faster to his 100 test wickets than Yasir’s 17 tests, but not many have been on pitches to compare with Seddon Park.
They’ll hope they have got it right because spin on days four and five could leave them red- faced.
The ball seamed about alarmingly, notably from left- armer Mohammad Amir, but using different methods, opener Jeet Raval and veteran Ross Taylor made impressive progress to the satisfaction of McMillan.
“I’m very happy with the way our batsmen went about their play,” he said. “We were very positive and decisive. We knew it was going be challenging. We had some momentum. Our guys were harsh on anything loose. Tomorrow is another day but it’s a good start.”
The one disappointing note was the loss of captain Kane Williamson to a contentious third umpire decision. Williamson didn’t think he had edged a ball from Sohail Khan. Given not out, Pakistan referred the appeal to third umpire Ian Gould who found in their favour.
Raval looks assured, after being dropped second ball of the day off the impressive Amir, driving and pulling the short ball sweetly while Taylor went on a charge, slapping four fours in seven Sohail deliveries.
His mindset might have been to go hard from the start in a move to shake off concerns over his left eye or maybe he just felt in the groove. Either way it worked and some freebies outside off helped as he flew to 29 off 20 balls.
Raval carried on his impressive debut effort in Christchurch of 55 and 36 not out. “He showed a composure we’ve seen at a level below. It’s nice you can see him taking the step up,” McMillan said.
In terms of getting a result, there’s still plenty of time. frequently as Australia crawled to 46- 2 after 26 overs.
The 29- year- old’s knock gave Australia an opportunity to take control of the test but he will be kicking himself after a woeful mix- up between the wickets.
Smith took off for a single after guiding the ball to point. By the time he noticed Khawaja had stopped midpitch, it was far too late.
Vernon Philander returned the pink Kookaburra to keeper Quinton de Kock, who had ample time to whip off the bails and dismiss Smith for a hard- earned 59.
Nobody enjoyed the wicket quite as much as Hashim Amla, who fumbled a slips catch when Smith was on 46, Australia were 142- 2 and the game was in the balance.
The run- out was a blow to Australia’s hopes of avoiding their first whitewash in a home test series since federation, with the Proteas holding an unassailable 2- 0 lead after resounding victories in Perth and Hobart. But Handscomb successfully negotiated 27 deliveries, pushing Australia’s total beyond the 200- run mark.
Debutant Matt Renshaw ( 10) and Warner ( 11) both departed in an inspired opening spell from Kyle Abbott.
Abbott, fresh from man- of- thematch honours in Hobart, bowled with pinpoint accuracy and moved the ball subtly to find the edge of Renshaw and Warner’s bats.
The right- armer boasted figures of 2- 7 from 10 overs when he was finally taken out of the attack by du Plessis and finished the day with 3- 36 after also bowling Handscomb.
South Africa finished at 259- 9 after the cheeky declaration from du Plessis sent the Australians in late on day one.
Du Plessis, found guilty of ball tampering and booed to the crease by the Adelaide Oval crowd on day one, was the mainstay of the South African innings with an unbeaten 118.