New Zealand vs South Africa, 1st Test, Day 2: 5 Talking Points

After South Africa bagged the Day 1 honours at the University Oval in Dunedin, hosts New Zealand came back strongly and ended Day 2 in a strong position. Beginning the day’ splay at 229/4, South Africa were wrecked by left-arm pacer Trent Boult and they could only add 79 runs to their overnight score getting bowled 308.

The hosts batted pretty well and courtesy fluent half-centuries from opener Jeet Raval and captain Kane Williamson they reached 177/3 in 55 overs at the end of the day. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj bagged a couple of wickets while Vernon Philander chipped in with a wicket. That said here we have a look at 5 Talking Points from the 2nd day’s play at Dunedin

1. Trent Boult’s fiery spell

The left-arm pacer bowled with venom in the morning session and the results were there to show. He finished with 4/64, adding 3 wickets to his overnight tally. He began with a couple of superb overs where he went past the edge pretty regularly but didn’t get the breakthrough. His first wicket in the day came when he dismissed Temba Bavuma who scored who played patient innings of 64. He shuffled across and guided a ball to the wicketkeeper down the leg side.

His final two wickets in the innings were those of Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander. While Maharaj failed to control a short delivery, Philander was castled by a beautiful inswinger.

2. Neil Wagner’s triple strike

The left-arm seamer bowled his heart out as he always does and finished with impressive figures of 3/88 in 31 overs. He had dismissed Hashim Amla and JP Duminy on Day 1 itself with exceptional deliveries. His only wicket on the 2nd day came in the 103rd over as his effort and persistence finally paid off with the wicket of centurion Dean Elgar.

It was a peach of a short delivery just around the off stump. Elgar was caught in the crease unsure about whether to play or leave. The ball kept coming back and took the edge which was safely pouched by BJ Watling behind the stumps. It was a vital moment in the match as Elgar could have stretched their 1st innings score.

3. Jeet Raval scores a fluent half-century

The right-handed played a good hand and got the hosts off to a solid start in pursuit of 308. After losing Tom Latham early, captain Kane Williamson and Raval revived the New Zealand innings with some sensible batting. Raval looked pretty comfortable in the middle even though he didn’t do anything expansive.

He began with a couple of boundaries of Keshav Maharaj which got things going for the opener. He then smashed a couple of boundaries of Vernon Philander in the 30th over and went on to notch up his half-century in the 33rd over. He was eventually dismissed by Maharaj against the run of play as he chipped a straight delivery straight to the mid-wicket fielder.

Also read: NZ v SA, 1st Test, Day 2 Review: Proteas suffer early collapse; New Zealand make a good start

4. Kane Williamson remains unbeaten on 78

The New Zealand captain was at his flamboyant best on Day 2 and looked in complete control of proceedings. Along with Jeet Raval, the duo shared an impressive 102 runs stand for the 2nd wicket which revived the New Zealand innings after the loss of an early wicket. He struck some delightful shots of each and every bowler and reached his half-century with a square cut.

He struck a hat-trick of boundaries of Kagiso Rabada to reach his fifty and then continued with a couple of boundaries more in the very next over. At the end of the day’s play, he was unbeaten on 78 of 146 balls, an innings constructed with 11 hits of the fence.

5. Keshav Maharaj bags a couple of wickets

The left-arm spinner bowled in the tight areas and has two wickets to show for his efforts at the end of the 2nd day’s play. He was introduced in the attack in the 15th over and got his first breakthrough in his 11th over. Jeet Raval who batted very well for a half-century had a brain fade and chipped the delivery straight to the midwicket fielder. The ball stopped on him and found out the lone catcher in the boundary.

Henry Nicholls was his 2nd victim as the southpaw edged a delivery to the slip fielder Amla and the veteran cricketer plucked on to a stunner. He had to stretch to pluck the low catch and though the onfield umpires went upstairs the replays showed the catch was taken cleanly.