NZ v SA, 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: Sensational Maharaj gives South Africa 1-0 lead

After an intense battle over the past two days, visitors South Africa pulled off an exceptional win against the Black Caps on the 3rd day of the 2nd Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington to go 1-0 up in the 3 match series. After a sensational partnership by Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock on the 2nd day which brought the visitors back into the match, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj ran through the New Zealand innings to bowl them out for a paltry 171 in their 2nd innings.

The target of 82 wasn’t going to be a threat for the mighty Proteas and they finished off the job in the 25th over losing two wickets. Earlier in the day, South Africa began at 349/9 in their 1st innings. Morne Morkel departed after making a brilliant 40 of 73 deliveries. The lead of 91 runs was a substantial one considering the situation of the match.

New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Jeet Raval walked out in the middle. Latham began with a boundary of Morkel in the opening over but departed in only the 5th over of the same bowler. It was a good length delivery angling away from the stumps outside the off. Latham’s bat didn’t come down straight as he pushed at the delivery away from the body with hard hands. It flew off the thick outside edge of the bat and was held at chest height by JP Duminy at gully.

Captain Kane Williamson followed Latham to the dressing room soon after nicking a delivery of Morne Morkel behind the stumps. It was bowled in the corridor of uncertainty and Williamson got a feather on it. The onfield umpire gave it not out but the hotspot suggested there was a clear spike on the bat so the onfield decision had to be overturned.

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Meanwhile, Raval was joined by Neil Broom and the duo looked to steady the ship for the hosts. They executed some delightful shots but in the 25th over Morkel came back and removed Broom to bag his 3rd wicket of the innings. It took the outside edge of the flashing blade of Broom and de Kock plucked onto a stunner diving full length. Now it was the turn of left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj to run through the middle and lower middle order of the hosts.

The left-arm tweaker dismissed Henry Nicholls and Jimmy Neesham in the 31st over which put the visitors in firm control. Nicholls attempted a full-fledged sweep but only managed to drag it straight onto his stumps while Neesham came dancing down the track and shovelled across the line as du Plessis held onto a stunning catch. Raval was joined by wicketkeeper BJ Watling to give him support.

Despite the fall of wickets, Raval was unruffled and kept executing some delightful shots. He completed his half-century in the 35th over. He was the only hope for New Zealand and along with Watling, the duo shared a 65 runs partnership for the 6th wicket. Raval eventually fell prey to Maharaj in the 58th over. It was a flighted delivery and Raval came dancing down the track. He missed it completely and de Kock completed an easy stumping behind the stumps.

Maharaj added another in a matter of minutes as Colin de Grandhomme was undone by a gaffer from the left-arm tweaker. It pitched middle and leg, turned sharply and took the top of off stump. A dream delivery definitely for any left arm spinner. He got his 2nd five wicket haul in the 62nd over when he had Tim Southee with a length delivery. He went for a wild heave and mistimed it straight to JP Duminy.

The formalities were done within the next two overs as New Zealand were bowled out for 171. Maharaja was the wrecker-in-chief with his 6 wicket haul while Morkel bagged 3. In pursuit of a below par victory target, South Africa lost just two wickets and romped home.

Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar was dismissed by Tim Southee and Neil Wagner respectively. Hashim Amla played some delightful strokes en route to his unbeaten 38 while Duminy remained not out on 15. Courtesy their brilliant victory, South Africa take a 1-0 lead in the 3 match series with a match to go.

Brief Scores

New Zealand 1st innings 268 all-out in 79.3 overs (Henry Nicholls 118, JP Duminy 4/47)

South Africa 1st innings 359 all-out in 98 overs (Quinton de Kock 91, Temba Bavuma 89, Colin de Grandhomme 3/52)

New Zealand 2nd innings 171 all-out in 63.2 overs (Jeet Raval 80, Keshav Maharaj 6/40, Morne Morkel 3/50)

South Africa 2nd innings 83/2 in 24.3 overs (Hashim Amla 38*, Dean Elgar 17, Tim Southee 1/17)

South Africa won by 8 wickets and lead 3 match series 1-0