South Africa vs New Zealand – 1st Test – Day 2 – Recap and Match Update
With skipper Brendon McCullum (51) and Deal Brownlie (69*) saving some grace, the Kiwis wrapped up Day 2 of the ongoing Test match against South Africa on 169/4, at Newlands, Cape Town.
The South Africans went into Day 2 from their overnight, first innings tally of 252/3, with Alviro Petersen on 103 and AB de Villiers on 19. Petersen was the day’s first casualty, bowled out by Trent Boult after adding just 3 runs to his individual score. Faf du Plessis (15) and Dean Elgar (21) were to follow; however, de Villiers was able to score 67 before walking back shortly after the lunch break.
Robin Peterson replaced the wicketkeeper batsman, but fell after adding only 5 runs to the total, prompting the Proteas to declare their innings on 347/8. Taking the field for their second innings (after a humiliating first), the Black Caps did not fare much better, losing opener Martin Guptill to Dale Steyn for a duck in the first over. However, skipper McCullum settled in as the Kiwis lost Kane Williamson (15) in the 18th over, who was then replaced by 28-year-old Dean Brownlie.
Together, McCullum and Brownlie took the score from 29/2 to 118, before the skipper was caught in front of the stumps by Robin Peterson, one run over his 25th Test fifty. Daniel Flynn was the next man in, but could only score 14 before being caught behind. The day then ended with Brownlie (69*) and BJ Watling (10*) occupying the crease with a total of 169 on the board.
The Kiwi bowlers bagged 5 wickets on Day 2, divided between Trent Boult (2) and Chris Martin (3), while the Proteas claimed 4 – Dale Steyn (1), Robin Peterson (1) and Jaques Kallis (2).
New Zealand’s second innings is shaping up much better than their first, where they were utterly destroyed by the South African pace attack. Steyn (2), Vernon Philander (5) and Morne Morkel (3) sent the whole lineup packing at a paltry 45. With the exception of Kane Williamson, not one player was able to score into double figures, as the innings was wrapped up inside of 20 overs.
Coming from the 3-match T20 series, which saw the touring Kiwis being defeated 2-1, the two sides are now facing each other in the 2-match Test leg, ahead of 3 One Day Internationals. The Proteas are currently the world’s best when it comes to the 5-day format and defeating the Black Caps will help them extend their lead in ICC’s Test rankings.
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