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

Day two of the first Test between New Zealand and South Africa got over. The hosts were still trailing by 131 runs at the University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday. South Africa resumed their 1st-day innings at 229 for 4 but as soon as Dean Elgar, who scored 140, departed, the Proteas innings collapsed as they lost their six wickets for 56 runs, thanks to Neil Wagner and Trent Boult’s fiery spells who shared seven wickets between them.

However, New Zealand didn’t get a good start as they lost opener Tom Latham for 10. In the second wicket partnership, Captain Kane Willaimson and Jeet Raval built 102 runs. The ominous partnership was broken by spinner Keshav Maharaj as Raval was caught at the slip by Elgar for 52.

The hosts suffered heartbreak as reliable middle order batsman Ross Taylor had to leave the ground due to injury for 8. The third and last wicket of the day was Henry Nicholls who was bamboozled by spinner Maharaj to claim his second wicket of the day.

New Zealand are still trailing by 131 runs. On Day three, Williamson and Jeetan Patel (9) will resume the innings. If the Black Caps wants to get first innings lead then skipper Williamson has to bat well for a long time, otherwise, they have to face the heat.

Taylor’s injury proved costly for the Black Caps as Williamson missed an experienced partner while batting. Meanwhile, South Africa after suffering a day-two collapse are desperate to get substantial first innings lead. With Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada are bowling their hearts out, South Africa will likely to get a first innings lead.

Also read – NZ v SA, 1st Test, Day 1 Review: Dean Elgar revives South Africa with a century after disastrous start

Meanwhile, New Zealand doesn’t have any reliable batsman to give can provide support to Williamson. So, the visitors are buoyant to target the other end of New Zealand to finish off the innings. All will depend whether Taylor will come back to bat or not on day three. This match is yet to give any hint about the result because day-two experienced some exotic moments.

With New Zealand in good form, South Africa have to work hard to bring the hosts on the brink of defeat. In the last two series, New Zealand defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh. So, this time at home they are looking for their first Test series victory against South Africa.

This time around at Dunedin, the visitors failed to post a big score, so the hosts are positive about getting a first innings lead. However, as New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor suffered an injury, the job has become difficult for the hosts. The only batsman they have now is skipper Williamson. On day three, the Proteas pacers will target his wicket to decimate New Zealand innings.

In the last series between, South Africa and New Zealand, the former won by 1-0 margin. In the ODI series, New Zealand lost the fifth ODI and series to South Africa but the competition was fierce.

Now, in Test series, the hosts will not easily give up. Both teams have good seamers and spinners who will not let each other to score runs heavily.

Brief scores:

SA – 308 (Dean Elgar – 140, Trent Boult – 4/64)

NZ – 177/3 (Kane Williamson – 78*, Keshav Maharaj – 2/57)

New Zealand trail by 131 runs