Twitter Reactions: South Africa beat New Zealand by 8 wickets to win the 2nd Test
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New Zealand and South Africa teams are very similar when it comes to the playing style. The second of the three-Test series concluded today as the South Africans cruised to an eight-wicket victory. After being asked to bat first, New Zealand were in deep trouble as they were reduced to 21/3. Their ever so reliable captain Kane Williamson failed and the whole batting order collapsed.
Thanks to the newcomer Henry Nicholls who chose this game to score his maiden Test century they recovered. Other batsmen batted around him but no one could convert the start. Jeet Raval got off to a steady start only to be undone by the left armer Keshav Maharaj. The Kiwis were bowled out for a mere 268. Nicholls scored an 118 hitting fifteen boundaries.
New Zealand came out all guns blazing after a dismal batting display. They sent back six South Africans back to the pavilion for a score of just 94. It looked like the Africans would be done and dusted before even getting to 150, but Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma had other ideas. The wicketkeeper and the classy Bavuma stuck in there and played some excellent strokes. The 160-run partnership helped South Africa overhaul the NZ total. The Proteas took a 91-run lead.
In reply, New Zealand were even more disappointing. They were outdone by some superb left-arm spin from Keshav Maharaja. He was right on the money from ball one. He bagged six wickets and in his 20 overs conceded only 40 runs. That was some performance from a player who is just six Test matches old is phenomenal.
Moreover, the track was made for seam bowling but a spinner owned it. New Zealand only managed a 171 in the second innings and South Africa were left with just 80 to chase. South Africans chased it down with just two blows. Both the openers lost their wicket as this Ab de Villiers less South African team took an unassailable lead in a three-match Test series.
Twitterati were at it again. There were congratulatory tweets flowing from all the cricket fans around the world as Twitter hailed South Africa for their wonderful victory over the Blackcaps.
Here are some of the selected tweets after South Africa comprehensively defeated New Zealand.
SA spinners at Basin Reserve in this Test: 50.5-14-138-12…That's astonishing. #NZvSA
— stuart hess (@shockerhess) March 18, 2017
The last time a South African spinner took six wickets in an innings was eight years ago. Paul Harris 6-127 v Aus in 2009. #NZvSA
— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) March 18, 2017
Two 5-fers for a spinner in a Test series in New Zealand in last 40 years:
Daniel Vettori vs AUS, 2000
Keshav Maharaj vs NZ, 2017*#NZvSA— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 18, 2017
Keshav Maharaj re-created Daniel Vettori's feat. #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/SJWMIua79U
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 18, 2017
Keshav Maharaj's Test best figures of 6/40 earn him the Man of the Match award in the 2nd Test in Wellington #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/CZNByKtPDy
— ICC (@ICC) March 18, 2017
#NZvSA South Africa has got to be the most un-home track bully-ish team in the world! Great going fellas!
— Sharanya R (@Sharanya_1999) March 18, 2017
BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson: 'It's terribly disappointing, we need to improve for next match' #NZvSA ^CE pic.twitter.com/yw25oeNb6l
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 18, 2017
SA win in Wellington means NZ yet to win a series v SA.
Among the top eight teams, all others has a series win over every other team.#NZvSA— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) March 18, 2017
Doesn't South Africa deserve to be #1 given that they are winning overseas? @ICC should add extra points for overseas victories #NZvSA
— Janani (@njan85) March 18, 2017
Never thought a Test match between South Africa & New Zealand would end under 3 days. Well bowled, Keshav Maharaj!#SAvNZ #NZvSA #ProteaFire
— Ali Akber (@aliakberhabib) March 18, 2017
Keshav Maharaj now has a better test bowling average (23.1) than Shane Warne (25.4).
— Sean Wilson (@SimplySean_) March 18, 2017
After 11 inns:
Keshav Maharaj: 24 wkts @ 23.12
Herath: 24 @ 36.25
Kumble: 23 @ 30.91
Harbhajan: 15 @ 40.93
Warne: 14 @ 46.2#InGoodCompany— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) March 18, 2017
Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock average 63 batting together (10 innings) with 2×50 and 2×100 run partnerships #NZvSA
— Natalie Germanos ? (@NatalieGermanos) March 17, 2017
Dear Faf, you now making habit of taking this one handed catches, it should stop Regards, ProteaFan @faf1307 #NZvSA
— Velaphi Masingi (@OfficialVeli) March 18, 2017
Last time NZ lost match within 3 days at home was back on 17 March 2012 by 9 wkts against SA after drawn 1st test#NZvSA #SAvNZ
— SAMRAAT (@ImSamraat) March 18, 2017
The Proteas won the match on this surface but waaait for it…with spinners.#ProteaFire #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/VtfB1dM3BW
— Sk Xaba (@Siki_Xaba) March 18, 2017
The Proteas did some serious sheep shearing today! Lol. Winning tests in Aus & NZ without AB or Steyn. Good signs. #NZvSA
— Carlos (@RealCarlito_32) March 18, 2017
What has happened Nz? Are you missing McCullum THAT much? Hope you pull yourself up as the Champions Trophy should be a big priorty. #NZvSA
— karan singal (@karansingal24) March 18, 2017
Thanks to Bavuma&de Kock for rescuing our first innings.Thanks to Maharaj for destroying the 2nd innings of New Zealand.#NZvSA #ProteaFire
— MOKOKO WA JAPAN (@RomarioAbdula) March 18, 2017
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