SA, Kiwi captains both claim edge

SOUTH Africa’s and New Zealand’s captains both claimed to have gained a psychological edge after rain washed out the final day of the first test in Dunedin yesterday.

Despite New Zealand suffering the loss of batsman Ross Taylor for the second test, captain Kane Williamson felt buoyed by his side being able to establish a 33-run first-innings lead.

“To put partnerships together against the very good attack they have was a good effort,” he said after play was abandoned without a ball bowled yesterday, leaving South Africa on 224 for six in their second innings, a lead of 191 runs.

“You always want more, which never goes away no matter how many you get, but it was nice to get a little lead going into that second innings.”

Taylor, who suffered a calf tear early in his innings, has been replaced by debutant Neil Broom for the second test starting in Wellington on Thursday.

Pace bowler Matt Henry has also been added to the squad with Trent Boult nursing a leg injury.

South African captain Faf du Plessis felt the rain had ruined a potential victory, with the Proteas set to capitalise on New Zealand’s injury woes.

“When a test match finishes on a day like today it’s very frustrating,” he said. “If today was a full day of cricket, we felt with [New Zealand] one seamer down and one of their main batters out of the team we fancied our chances. It’s very disappointing.

“We were 190 ahead on a wicket that was spinning quite a bit, purely on the match position if we got 50-60 more runs, a 250 lead and set them that in 50-60 overs, we’d fancy our chances.”