SA v NZ, 1st Test Day 2 Review: Rain frustrates and breaks Proteas rhythm

Rain made its divine intervention on the second day of the 1st SA v NZ Test, when Dale Steyn was just about to find his rhythm with some splendid bowling. The rain and the wet outfield meant that only four wickets would be taken on the day and New Zealand would certainly be let off the hook. The wicket, however, will be expected to hold up for the following days of the match as some pristine swing bowling is expected.

The day began with South Africa in a precarious position at 236/8. although there were some early showers, the fact of the matter remained that South Africa had to get some runs on the board and quickly. Dale Steyn was the first wicket of the morning when he was cleaned up by Tim Southee as the latter went on to pick up the first wicket of the morning.

However, what followed was perhaps most frustrating for the Boult and Southee combination. Moreover, the fact was that Kagiso Rabada was playing some wonderful strokes while Dane Piedt played survived at the other end. Rabada managed a valiant 32 runs off just 60 deliveries, something that included five boundaries. Piedt was eventually dismissed after a full-blooded drive found it’s way to BJ Watling.

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The New Zealand batsmen might have been some of the best batsmen in the world. However, the fact remained that they were simply blown out of the park. He swung the ball as viciously as ever as he snapped up the openers Guptill and Latham cheaply. The rain intervened just 6 minutes before lunch as the day was subsequently called off with the Kiwis on 15/2.

Brief Scores:

South Africa: 263 all out (H Amla 53; N Wagner 3/47)

New Zealand: 15/2 (D Steyn 2/3)

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