Kaning hurt us, admit Proteas
SUPERB: KIWI CAPTAIN LEAVES VISITORS ON THE ROPES
De Grandhomme gets Elgar out cheaply for the fourth time in a row during Test series.
Hamilton
South Africa paid homage to a “fabulous” Kane Williamson yesterday after the New Zealand captain’s 176 left the Proteas on the ropes with a day to play in the deciding Test.
The Kiwi captain’s epic knock and a quickfire 57 from Colin de Grandhomme helped the Black Caps reach 489 in their first innings, before reducing the Proteas to 80/5.
Adrian Birrell, Proteas assistant coach, said their batting mayhem was part of the flow-on effect from Williamson’s marathon innings. They still trailed the Kiwis by 95 runs at stumps.
“One hundred and sixty two overs is a long time to be in the field and it was a hard day. Players are fatigued and to bat on the back of that is always going to be difficult.” he said.
De Grandhomme ignited the assault on the South African top order when he removed Dean Elgar for five and later took a smart catch to dismiss Hashim Amla for 19. The Zimbabwe-born De Grandhomme was not required for the first Test when Elgar scored 140 and 89, but in four innings since then he has removed the opener for scores of nine, 17, five and five.
Debutant Theunis de Bruyn was run out for 12 in a bizarre mid-pitch collision when he was ball-watching and veered into Amla, leaving the batsmen sprawled on the ground.
Off-spinner Jeetan Patel dismissed Amla and bowled JP Duminy (13), before Matt Henry removed Temba Bavuma for one.
Williamson, who resumed on 148, hooked Morne Morkel to Vernon Philander at long leg after 449 minutes in the middle.
Morkel took four for 100 and Kagiso Rabada four for 122, while De Kock held five catches behind the stumps. – AFP