Application problem as Black Caps batsmen fail

In front of a stacked field but an empty crowd, further questions were raised about the application of New Zealand’s top order batsmen on the third morning of the second cricket test against South Africa at Centurion.

At 118 for six in response to the hosts’ declaration at 481 for eight, the visitors’ recent victories against Zimbabwe looked distant.

Captain Kane Williamson’s defence was the thread which kept them from weaving out of control as Dale Steyn, Vern Philander and Kagiso Rabada secured a wicket each.

The Black Caps’ prospects of a first series victory against the Proteas look to have evaporated; the chances of a drawn series also look slim.

Henry Nicholls produced an innings of 36 — the second time in seven innings he’s exited the teens — before being adjudged lbw to Kagiso Rabada around the wicket.

Umpire Paul Reiffel gave it not out but a review corrected a plumb dismissal.

Nicholls took three cheap boundaries over the slips from Steyn’s second over of the day, then received a snorter in retaliation the following over. Nichols looked accomplished off his legs and the back foot through the covers but doubts remain over his technique and temperament.

To complete an awkward umpiring morning, B-J Watling was given not out by Ian Gould on eight, only for the review to show a glove had edged it behind off Steyn.

Mitchell Santner had his stumps skittled by Philander, leaving Doug Bracewell unbeaten on one at lunch.

Williamson was in his element to reach 40 not out, particularly duelling against Steyn. A point blank parp from a vuvuzela would have struggled to rattle him.

Steyn is arguably the most attacking bowler in cricket’s top echelon. Of the 13 players to pass 400 test wickets he has the lowest strike rate of 42.

His injury worries of recent months have coincided with South Africa’s slide to seventh in the test rankings.

Against Williamson you sensed Steyn relished the challenge.

The New Zealand captain responded with hands of velvet and the judgment of a bomb disposal expert outside off stump, much like his 2012 century from 228 balls and almost 51⁄ against South Africa at the Basin Reserve.

A cracked box from his feat, apparently signed by the perpetrator Steyn, is understood to still sit in Williamson's memorabilia vault.