New Zealand v South Africa, 2nd Test – Statistical Highlights

New Zealand’s wait to defeat South Africa in a Test series continues as the visiting side took a 1-0 lead in the 3-match Test series with an 8-wicket win in the 2nd game of the series at the Basin Reserve. On a pitch where pacers were expected to have an upper hand, it was the South African spinners who set up the game for their side.

Keshav Maharaj and JP Duminy taking 12 wickets between them of which the earlier Maharaj took 8 including 6 wickets in the second innings. With the bat, it was the stand between Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma that earned a lead for the Proteas that proved to be a match-winning one. Here we look at all the records and stats created during the Test match.

2 – Number of spinners including Keshav Maharaj who have taken more than one 5-wicket haul in a Test series in New Zealand in last 40 years. The other instance was Daniel Vettori vs Australia in 2000.

3 – Runs aggregated by Kane Williamson in this Test match, the fewest for him in his career so far in a Test where he batted in both innings. His previous lowest was 6 runs (0, 6) vs England at Leeds in 2011.

6/40 – Keshav Maharaj’s bowling figures of 6/40 are the 2nd best figures for a South African spinner since their return to Test cricket in 1992. His best figures are 7/128 for Paul Adams in 2003 vs Pakistan at Lahore.

8/87 – Maharaj’s bowling figures of 8/87 are the best match figures for a spinner in Tests in New Zealand since Murali’s 10/118 in 2006. In fact, Maharaj’s figures are the best for a South African spinner since Paul Harris’ 9/161 vs Australia at Cape Town in 1999.

160 – Partnership stand between Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma for the 7th wicket in South Africa’s first innings is their highest stand for the 7th wicket in Test cricket after losing first six wickets inside 100.

265 – Runs added by South Africa for their last 4 wickets in first innings, the 3rd most for them in an innings in Test cricket. Highest is 318 vs Australia in 2008 at Melbourne.

349 – South Africa’s first innings total of 349 is the 4th highest total in Test cricket for any team after losing first 6 wickets inside 100.

1957 – Last time before this Test, South African spinners took 12 or more wickets in a Test match outside Asia was way back in 1957 vs England at Johannesburg.

1973 – The last instance of a visiting spinner before Keshav Maharaj taking 5-wicket hauls in consecutive Tests in a Test series in New Zealand was Intikhab Alam in 1973.

1981 – Last time before this Test, a visiting team’s spinners took 12 or more wickets in a Test match in New Zealand was way back in 1981 (13 wickets) by India at Auckland.

2011 – Last time before Kane Williamson in this Test match, a New Zealand captain aggregated 3 or fewer runs in a Test after batting in the both innings was Daniel Vettori in 2011 vs Pakistan at Hamilton. Vettori scored 0 and 3 respectively in that game.