NZ grind out first Test series win over SA

KANE Williamson hit an unbeaten century as New Zealand patiently chased down a victory target of 267 to beat South Africa by seven wickets on the fourth day of the second Test yesterday and clinch a first ever series win over the Proteas.

South Africa, severely depleted with most of their top players back home playing the SA20 tournament, battled hard to even up the series at but were unable to make sufficient inroads into the home batting order.

Williamson’s 133, his 32nd Test century, mostly came in a partnership of 152 with Will Young (60 not out) that got the Black Caps over the line in what was a record fourth-innings run chase in a test at Seddon Park.

The 2-0 series triumph, a first in 19 attempts over nearly a century, will come with a hefty asterisk due to the inexperience of the South African squad, which possessed fewer caps in total than several of the Black Caps on their own.

“It was a pretty old fashioned sort of ding-dong test match,” said New Zealand skipper Tim Southee.

“Kane played an absolute blinder, as he has done for so many years, and he was well assisted by Youngy today.”

The tourists will take credit for putting up such a fight after losing the first test by a thumping 281 runs but captain Neil Brand was left ruing a second-innings collapse on Thursday in which they lost their last six wickets for 33 runs.

“The first test was really difficult and I was very proud of the way that we bounced back in this series,” said the 27-year-old, who was playing his first and probably last test series.

“Definitely more disappointed after this test match just because we were in the game ... I think the session yesterday probably cost us a bit ... so bitterly disappointed.”

The hosts resumed yesterday on 40-1 with the match very much in the balance after Devon Conway had been dismissed by spinner Dane Piedt in the final over of play on day three.

Opener Tom Latham added nine runs to his overnight tally before he departed for 30, caught by Zubayr Hamza off Piedt, but that just brought Williamson to the crease.

The master batsman boasted an average of 88 in Hamilton and he set about constructing his innings in his usual deliberate manner, with plenty of grind but ruthless punishment for anything loose.

The Black Caps reached lunch at 107-2 and Rachin Ravindra was winkled out by Piedt for 20 soon afterwards when his attempted drive went straight Brand.

Williamson reached his 34th half century two overs later, however, and Young survived a scare when he was given out to Shaun von Berg but a review overturned the decision.

SUBDUED CELEBRATION

New Zealand scored only 66 runs in the second session to reach tea on 173-3 but Williamson was soon celebrating another century in trademark subdued fashion after a lengthy wait on 99.

The 33-year-old, who scored hundreds in each innings in the first test, moved alongside Australians Steve Waugh and Steve Smith in joint 11th place in the all-time list of test century scorers. — Reuters