Image Credit- AFP
On the third day of the second Test in Hamilton,
following David Bedingham’s elegant hundred, William O’Rourke’s five-wicket
haul on debut enabled New Zealand to storm back into the match. In the last
session, South Africa lost six wickets for 33 runs after being 202 for 4. The
visitors gave New Zealand a target of 267 after they came back into the game
with a 31-run lead in the first innings.
At stumps, New Zealand was 40 for 1, having lost Devon
Conway to Dane Piedt on what proved to be the final delivery of the day. As the
match enters its fourth day, both sides are finely positioned with New Zealand
requiring 227 runs and South Africa needing nine wickets.
Should New Zealand succeed in chasing this, it will surpass Australia’s 2000
210-run goal and become the most successful chase at Seddon Park.
O’Rourke took two wickets in his morning spell and
Rachin Ravindra took one as New Zealand got off to a good start. Neil Brand,
the captain of South Africa, lingered for a while before giving up a 34 from 60
balls. Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza provided South Africa a much-needed boost
from 39 for 3. As South Africa amassed 30 runs off of Ravindra’s three overs
prior to lunch, Bedingham in particular took aim at his subpar deliveries.
After lunch, the pair, who had begun the day with an aggressive game plan, decided
to play more cautiously because Matt Henry and O’Rourke’s balls were nipping
about a lot.
Interestingly, Tim Southee, playing his first Test in
over a year, took 36 overs to give the ball to Neil Wagner. The 65-run
partnership was ended in five balls by the seasoned left-arm seamer, as an
eager Hamza holed out to deep square leg off a short delivery. But ever since
Hamza was fired, South Africa appeared to be in good standing, with Bedingham
and Keegan Petersen forming a strong alliance.
Thanks to a magnificent catch at gully by Glenn
Phillips, Henry started the collapse just as it appeared as though South Africa
would win. A few overs later, Ruan de Swardt exposed his stumps while trying to
sweep, and Phillips, with his offspin, cleaned him up. However, O’Rourke again
provided the crucial wicket, dismissing Bedingham for 110 runs. The batter
reached gully after cutting off a back of a length delivery outside off. An
hour into the final session, New Zealand had already completely destroyed South
Africa thanks to the extra bounce on the surface and O’Rourke’s speed and
precision.
By finishing with an overall match haul of 9 for 93,
O’Rourke registered the best bowling figures on Test debut for a New Zealand
bowler.