Twitter Reactions: Henry Nicholls' century puts New Zealand in driving seat on day two

New Zealand are comfortably placed in the ongoing first Test against South Africa at Christchurch.

By Karthik Nair

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New Zealand team
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New Zealand team. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

The first Test match between New Zealand and South Africa that is currently underway at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch is strongly heading in the favor of the hosts as they have made the most of the home conditions after skipper Tom Latham won the toss and invited the Proteas to bat on a typical green wicket as frontline pacer Matt Henry ran through the visitors’ batting order with figures of 7/23 to bowl the opposition out for a paltry 95 runs.

However, the South African bowlers did not get any assistance from the pitch unlike their Kiwi counterparts as they were taken to the cleaners by the batters at regular intervals and they failed to rediscover their rhythm as the hosts went on to post formidable first-innings total on the board and ensured that they out batted the visitors out of the contest and are on the verge of registering a huge win with three more days to go.

Kiwis outclass the Proteas with a clinical performance on Day 2

After an outstanding bowling performance that prevented South Africa from breaching the three-figure mark on Day one, the Kiwi batters ensured that they laid a solid foundation but, received early setbacks from openers, Tom Latham and Will Young. With the Black Caps in a spot of bother at 111/3, middle-order batter Henry Nicholls took the attack to the Proteas bowlers and went on to score a magnificent century. He scored 105 runs before being dismissed by Duanne Olivier.

A 96-run knock from wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell and a quickfire 45 runs off 42 deliveries by power-hitter Colin de Grandhomme ensured that the visitors did not heave a sigh of relief despite picking up the key wicket of Nicholls. In the end, New Zealand’s star with the ball in the first innings Matt Henry also made his presence felt with the bat scoring a precious 58 but more importantly, he remained unbeaten as the Black Caps were all out for 482.

With a mammoth first-innings lead of 387 runs, the Kiwi bowlers showed no complacency as they once again broke the backbone of South Africa reducing them to 34/3 heading into stumps on Day 2. With captain Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram back in the pavilion cheaply, the middle-order duo of Temba Bavuma (22*) and Rassie van der Dussen (9*) would be hoping to reduce their deficit by showing some resistance against New Zealand’s lethal bowling attack on Day 3.

Here are the Twitter Reactions after New Zealand’s clinical performance on Day 2

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