Tweet
Tea New Zealand 64 for 2 (Guptill 40*, Brownlie 0*) and 121 (Watling 63, Steyn 5-17) trail South Africa 525 for 8 dec by 340 runs
BJ Watling lifted New Zealand's first innings into three figures in their first innings © Associated Press
New Zealand's top order provided more stubborn resistance as they followed-on in Port Elizabeth, but Robin Peterson chipped out two wickets during the afternoon as they reached tea on 64 for 2 still a massive 340 adrift. Dale Steyn had taken 5 for 17 during the morning session, but New Zealand carried the fight shown by BJ Watling into their second attempt to at least make South Africa work harder.
South Africa were frustrated a little by a final-wicket stand of 59 - just three runs fewer than the first nine together - between Watling and Trent Boult, but when Graeme Smith collected Watling's outside edge there was never any doubt that New Zealand would be batting again. It will be galling for them that, despite much diligence, it was the spinner that did the damage and Kane Williamson's loss, five minutes before tea when he played back to one that did not bounce, continued his tough times.
New Zealand had survived four overs before lunch, although not without alarm as Martin Guptill was given out caught off the arm when he was troubled by a Steyn bouncer but was saved by the DRS. Guptill, who has been a walking wicket in whites since the tour of West Indies, did not suggest permanency early in his innings but steadily grew in confidence as he weathered the early spells of Steyn and Morne Morkel. He was given the occasional leg-side delivery to relieve the pressure and his straight-driving, often on showed in limited-overs cricket, made a pleasing appearance.
He survived a review when Smith used one for an lbw appeal by Rory Kleinveldt which was shown to have jagged back too much and was only clipping, then responded by crashing the next ball through the off side.
Guptill was the main run-scorer because Brendon McCullum played another innings contrary to his natural instincts, this time so much so that he dug himself into a hole. Clearly the captain feels under pressure not to gift his wicket, and that is understandable, but he has yet to define what sort of batsman he will be while also leading the side.
His 11 off 57 balls was his slowest Test innings over 10 (nudging ahead of his first-innings effort here) and was ended when he missed a straight delivery from Peterson which struck the back leg. McCullum reviewed but the ball was clipping leg stump. Peterson settled into a probing spell, economical, spell which allowed Smith to rotate his fast bowlers in short bursts. In the penultimate over of the session and ball skidded through and took the under-edge of Williamson's cut shot.
Still, given the lowly expectations on New Zealand, this had been an improvement. Resuming on a hopeless 47 for 6 this morning, Watling and Doug Bracewell negotiated the first eight overs of the day but once Steyn started curving the ball an edge was only a matter of time. It came from a lovely delivery that bounced and left Bracewell, but the 44 balls he played were more than what most of the top order faced.
An inswinger did for Neil Wagner, pinning the left-hand batsman on the crease. He reviewed the decision, seemingly thinking he had edged the ball but HotSpot did not show anything. At least Wagner was in line. The same can't be said of Jeetan Patel who, like in Cape Town, was backing away to square leg, which made Steyn's life pretty easy.
Watling stood tall amid the wreckage. He showed the determination that was on show in the second innings at Newlands then, with the No. 11 for company, took three boundaries off five balls against Kleinveldt. He continued to show his attacking side when Peterson dropped a couple short that were cut behind square, the second taking him to an excellent fifty from 75 balls and lifting New Zealand to three figures, which had looked unlikely a few minutes earlier.
Boult provided unexpected support at No. 11. In the main he at least tried to stay in line and upper-cut Kleinveldt over the slips before striking him handsomely straight down the ground for six, which resulted in a smashed window. The 50 stand came up from just 37 balls and a hint of frustration was seeping into South Africa's bowling until Watling edged Morkel. Still, Watling had shown New Zealand the way and at least his team-mates tried to respond in kind.
BJ Watling lifted New Zealand's first innings into three figures in their first innings © Associated Press
New Zealand's top order provided more stubborn resistance as they followed-on in Port Elizabeth, but Robin Peterson chipped out two wickets during the afternoon as they reached tea on 64 for 2 still a massive 340 adrift. Dale Steyn had taken 5 for 17 during the morning session, but New Zealand carried the fight shown by BJ Watling into their second attempt to at least make South Africa work harder.
South Africa were frustrated a little by a final-wicket stand of 59 - just three runs fewer than the first nine together - between Watling and Trent Boult, but when Graeme Smith collected Watling's outside edge there was never any doubt that New Zealand would be batting again. It will be galling for them that, despite much diligence, it was the spinner that did the damage and Kane Williamson's loss, five minutes before tea when he played back to one that did not bounce, continued his tough times.
New Zealand had survived four overs before lunch, although not without alarm as Martin Guptill was given out caught off the arm when he was troubled by a Steyn bouncer but was saved by the DRS. Guptill, who has been a walking wicket in whites since the tour of West Indies, did not suggest permanency early in his innings but steadily grew in confidence as he weathered the early spells of Steyn and Morne Morkel. He was given the occasional leg-side delivery to relieve the pressure and his straight-driving, often on showed in limited-overs cricket, made a pleasing appearance.
He survived a review when Smith used one for an lbw appeal by Rory Kleinveldt which was shown to have jagged back too much and was only clipping, then responded by crashing the next ball through the off side.
Guptill was the main run-scorer because Brendon McCullum played another innings contrary to his natural instincts, this time so much so that he dug himself into a hole. Clearly the captain feels under pressure not to gift his wicket, and that is understandable, but he has yet to define what sort of batsman he will be while also leading the side.
His 11 off 57 balls was his slowest Test innings over 10 (nudging ahead of his first-innings effort here) and was ended when he missed a straight delivery from Peterson which struck the back leg. McCullum reviewed but the ball was clipping leg stump. Peterson settled into a probing spell, economical, spell which allowed Smith to rotate his fast bowlers in short bursts. In the penultimate over of the session and ball skidded through and took the under-edge of Williamson's cut shot.
Still, given the lowly expectations on New Zealand, this had been an improvement. Resuming on a hopeless 47 for 6 this morning, Watling and Doug Bracewell negotiated the first eight overs of the day but once Steyn started curving the ball an edge was only a matter of time. It came from a lovely delivery that bounced and left Bracewell, but the 44 balls he played were more than what most of the top order faced.
An inswinger did for Neil Wagner, pinning the left-hand batsman on the crease. He reviewed the decision, seemingly thinking he had edged the ball but HotSpot did not show anything. At least Wagner was in line. The same can't be said of Jeetan Patel who, like in Cape Town, was backing away to square leg, which made Steyn's life pretty easy.
Watling stood tall amid the wreckage. He showed the determination that was on show in the second innings at Newlands then, with the No. 11 for company, took three boundaries off five balls against Kleinveldt. He continued to show his attacking side when Peterson dropped a couple short that were cut behind square, the second taking him to an excellent fifty from 75 balls and lifting New Zealand to three figures, which had looked unlikely a few minutes earlier.
Boult provided unexpected support at No. 11. In the main he at least tried to stay in line and upper-cut Kleinveldt over the slips before striking him handsomely straight down the ground for six, which resulted in a smashed window. The 50 stand came up from just 37 balls and a hint of frustration was seeping into South Africa's bowling until Watling edged Morkel. Still, Watling had shown New Zealand the way and at least his team-mates tried to respond in kind.