New Zealand VS South Africa - 1st Test -4th Day– Match Recap
The 4th day of the 1st Test match between the hosts New Zealand, and visitors South Africa, saw the Proteas set up a testing target for the opponents before the Kiwis responded with the same vigour and passion to leave the match hanging
in the balance at the day’s end.
Earlier the visitors declared in the afternoon with 5 wickets in hand, to set a target of 401 for the home side. At the day’s end New Zealand were going good at 137 for 2 on a slow pitch which had increasingly become batsman-friendly overtime.
The visiting side resumed batting in the morning at 268 for 3 with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JH-Kallis-c1692 and Rudolph looking to strengthen the overnight score. The black caps drew their first blood when Kallis(113) was caught off Trent Boult’s bowling at midwicket during the early
overs.
After that the visitors played with ease as the wearing pitch had become too slow and offered less assistance to bowlers. None of the bowlers could offer any significant trouble for the batsmen.
Rudolph scored his 6th test century while making his side achieve this goal overall for the 15th time in Test matches. Against the hosts New Zealand, this was the 1st time the visitor’s had made this mark.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 would become the only 5th team to chase over 400 runs in the 4th innings if they succeed.
The South African’s were confident at having crossed the psychological barrier of 400 runs to set a demanding target. It remained up to the Kiwis now to prove them otherwise.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980 opened the bat for the Black Caps, however, the Proteas bowlers were quick to attack and obtained 2 quick wickets. Guptil (6) and Nicol (19) were sent packing in quick succession back to the pavilion.
This invited the wicketkeeper batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LRPL-Taylor-c1849 to the crease. The skipper had earlier announced to take the Proteas challenge head on and this was his chance to prove his worth.
With little assistance from the pitch, the batsmen hammered the bowlers for runs with surprising ease. Even the spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Tahir could not elicit much turn from the surface. The fast bowlers on the other hand had lost the bounce due to wearing away of
the pitch's surface.
New Zealand in a pure display of courage and determination closed the day at 137 for 2 with the skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 (48) and McCullum (58) both looking exceptionally good. They now need an additional 264 runs with 8 more wickets in hand.
The match could sway in any direction and with rain expected tomorrow, all four options are open. It would definitely turn out to be an exciting last day of the 1st test between the two sides.
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