South Africa outsmarted New Zealand, beating it in a crushing 198-run second Test win in Christchurch on Tuesday to draw the two-game run 1-1. New Zealand, a record 426 to win, was all out for 227 eight balls in the second innings after tea on the final day.
It completed a remarkable turnaround for South Africa, which read conditions much better than New Zealand after being thrashed by an innings and 276 runs on the same ground in the first Test.
Captain Dean Elgar, after that humiliation, demanded that his side be “in front” and they obeyed.
A century by Sarel Erwee laid the groundwork for a first innings 364, Kagiso Rabada took five for 60 as New Zealand folded 71 overdue and an unbeaten 136 by Kyle Verreynne in the second innings tightened the clamp on New Zealand.
New Zealand started the final day at 94 for four and with Devon Conway and Tom Blundell at the top they were hopeful they could save a draw.
But it was a hopeless hope and their 85-run partnership ended shortly before lunch when Conway went leg for wicket for 92.
New Zealand’s hopes of saving a draw rose again at 227 to nine as rain forced the players off the field, but it was a brief hiatus.
South African-born Conway, who has averaged a remarkable 63.91 from 12 innings, had added 32 to his 60 overnights and was in sight of his fourth Test century when Lutho Sipamla claimed the wicket with a pinpoint yorker.
Blundell continued with Colin de Grandhomme and went to lunch with a set at 44, but was removed shortly after the resumption without adding anything to his score.
He mistimed a short ball from Marco Jansen and skied it at midwicket to Temba Bavuma.
It started a rich period for Jansen who also took the wickets of Colin de Grandhomme for 18 and Kyle Jamieson for 12.
Kagiso Rabada removed Tim Southee and Keshav Maharaj ended the match with Matt Henry lbw for nothing.
It was a disappointing result for New Zealand after their comprehensive first Test victory, who were looking for a first-ever series win against South Africa.
They went into the Test with an unchanged side, relying on a pace attack and no spinner that has become common on the mostly emerald Hagley Oval wicket.
But South Africa noted that the second wicket of the Test was more khaki than green, left arm spinner Keshav Maharaj promoted to the starting eleven and he became a key point of difference.
Maharaj set the podium in the second innings when he was introduced early and top-order batsmen Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell pitched after Rabada claimed openers Tom Latham and Will Young.
promoted
He then finished the Test with Henry’s wicket to leave New Zealand again without a series win over South Africa after 17 tries over 90 years.
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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