Colin de Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell embarked on a crucial rescue mission for New Zealand as South Africa continued to dominate the second test on day two in Christchurch on Saturday. Their 66-run, sixth wicket partnership, dominated by half a century to the Grandhomme, took New Zealand to 157 for five at stumps in response to South Africa’s 364. Playing with the lights on on a gloomy afternoon in South Africa’s Hagley Oval had New Zealand at five for 91 before the Grandhomme joined Mitchell in the middle. The burly all-rounder favored attack as the best defense and was not out on 54 of 61 punch deliveries, with the more observant Mitchell on 29.
After being outplayed on the first day, New Zealand fought back in the draw by four wickets for 60 on the second morning, to have South Africa 298 for seven at lunchtime.
Two overs after the restart, South Africa was 302 for eight, but then, after a 20-minute rain disruption, momentum bounced back to Proteas’ side.
Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj mounted a heady 62-run stand of 78 deliveries – a record ninth wicket partnership for South Africa against New Zealand – and South Africa was back in the box-seat.
When Kyle Jamieson finally mopped the tail, the situation in New Zealand deteriorated.
Kagiso Rabada cleared openers Tom Latham for nothing and Will Young for three, both trailing – and New Zealand trailing two for just nine runs.
Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, creator of the first Test century, tried to bring some backbone into the innings, though Conway never looked at ease.
He struggled with Rabada, who had turned down an lbw appeal and dropped a sharp catch-and-bowled opportunity before Jansen took the wicket with Kyle Verreynne taking another legside catch.
South Africa lost two ratings calling for leg before decisions before finally taking the fourth wicket with a carefully crafted plan to catch Nicholls for 39.
Jansen delivered a tempting short, wide pitch, similar to one Nicholls had cut for four early in his innings.
He couldn’t resist hitting again — but this time Sarel Erwee waited on the back end to catch.
Tom Blundell held out six balls for six runs before being bowled by Rabada, who has figures of three for 37, while Jansen has two for 48.
New Zealand matched South Africa for lunch with Matt Henry and Neil Wagner taking two wickets each.
Henry cleared Temba Bavuma for 29 and Verreynne for four in the space of 10 deliveries, and Wagner claimed the wickets of Rassie van der Dussen for 25 and Wiaan Mulder for 14.
But after Wagner fired Rabada for six hours after lunch, Jansen and Maharaj regained control of the tourists.
They were particularly hard on Wagner, with 39, including seven fours in five overs, before the South African-born New Zealander was taken out of the attack.
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He was replaced by Jamieson who ended the innings in his first over with Maharaj sacking for an entertaining 36 out of 50 deliveries, while Lutho Sipamla went undefeated and Jansen went unbeaten at 37.
Wagner gave four for 102, while Henry took three for 90.
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