New Zealand in SA
SA leave Black Caps in tatters
2013-01-12 18:35
Port Elizabeth - An astonishing day of runs and wickets from the
Proteas left New Zealand in tatters at the end of the second day of the second
Sunfoil Test match at Axxess St.George’s on Saturday as the tourists closed on
47-6 in reply to South Africa’s huge total of 525-8 declared.
Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar added centuries to the one
Hashim Amla made on day one before Dale Steyn, Rory Kleinveldt and Robin
Peterson claimed a pair of wickets each to set up the possibility of a second
successive three-day victory for the home side.
Amla added just four runs to his overnight 106 before edging
a leg-side delivery from Trent Boult to wicketkeeper BJ Watling but there was
precious little else for the New Zealanders to celebrate as Du Plessis and
Elgar added 131 for the sixth wicket in good time.
VIDEO: SA v NZ: 2nd Test, day 2, latest highlights
Du Plessis reached his century with a six, as he did to
reach 50, and took his second century in just his fourth Test to 137 from 252
deliveries with 14 fours and the two sixes before top-edging medium-pacer Colin
Munro to cover.
Graeme Smith delayed his declaration
until after tea to allow Elgar the opportunity to score the nine runs he needed
for a century in just his third Test which emphatically erased the memory of
the ‘pair’ he made on debut in Perth last month.
The Chevrolet Knights’ left-hander discarded all the tension
and diffidence he displayed in that game, and again at Sahara Park Newlands in
the first Sunfoil Test, to bat with the freedom and confidence which produced a
six and 14 fours, the last of which saw him move from 99 to 103 from 170
deliveries.
Steyn made immediate inroads when a weary New Zealand
finally began their reply after 153.5 overs in the field. Opener Martin Guptill
edged to third slip where Alviro Petersen obliged and Kane Williamson followed
in the great fast bowler’s third over, caught by Smith at first slip.
Kleinveldt produced a snorting delivery which Dean Brownlie
could only glove to AB de Villiers and then promptly trapped Daniel Flynn lbw
for a duck.
If the tourists were hoping for some respite at the
introduction of Robin Peterson into the attack, the opposite transpired as the
left-arm spinner claimed two wickets in as many balls.
Brendon McCullum nicked a wild drive into Kallis’ midriff at
slip and Colin Munro, who bowled so tidily on debut, inside-edged his first
delivery to Elgar at short leg to complete another day of wretched misery for
the tourists.