New Zealand's Dean Brownlie avoids a bouncer on day three
of the second cricket test against South Africa in Port
Elizabeth. REUTERS/Rogan Ward
New Zealand fought bravely to move to 157 for four in
their second innings, following on and still 247 runs behind
South Africa, at the close of the third day's play in the
second test.
Unbeaten pair BJ Watling (41) and Dean Brownlie (44) provided
stern resistance and the duo looked relatively untroubled as
they added an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 73 off
27.2 overs to steer their team to the close of play.
Opener Martin Guptill contributed 48 before being bowled by
seamer Rory Kleinveldt who went on to have Daniel Flynn (0)
caught behind with his next delivery.
Kleinveldt ended the day with two for 31 while left-arm
spinner Robin Peterson, who accounted for Brendon McCullum
(11) and Kane Williamson (11), claimed two for 29.
The tourists showed far more determination with the bat than
they had in their first innings when they subsided to 121 all
out in reply to the top-ranked hosts's 525-8 declared.
Watling said that while the pitch was providing some variable
bounce it was still good for batting which would aid New
Zealand's seemingly impossible task of at least forcing South
Africa to bat again.
"It is a little bit variable and there are a few balls
staying quite low. It's still a reasonable track and we need
to keep fighting away tomorrow morning and keep wearing them
out," Watling told a news conference.
The morning session had belonged to speedster Dale Steyn, the
world's top-ranked bowler, who claimed five for 17 off 13
overs to bundle New Zealand out 30 minutes before lunch, at
that stage trailing South Africa by 404 runs.
Watling provided the one shining light for the tourists in
their first dig as his battling 63 off 87 balls with 13 fours
added some gloss to the innings.
ATTACK OR DEFEND?
Steyn, while expressing some sympathy for the situation that
New Zealand find themselves in, said that the introduction of
the second new ball soon after the start of play on day four
could settle the test.
"It's a difficult situation when you have been asked to
follow on and you are so many runs behind. How do you go
about batting? Do you attack or do you defend? It is a tough
one for them," he said.
"We are 13 overs away from the second new ball so if we can
knock one over tomorrow with the older ball then get the new
ball to talk a bit and get some swing then that would help,"
he added.
New Zealand began the day on a parlous 47 for six and the
pair of Watling and Doug Bracewell (7) added 14 runs to the
overnight total before the right-handed Bracewell prodded at
a Steyn delivery to send an outside edge through to keeper De
Villiers.
Steyn struck again one run later when he trapped the
left-handed Neil Wagner (0) leg-before with an in-swinging
delivery.
The 29-year-old Steyn was not done yet and in his next over
he bowled Jeetan Patel (0) after the batsman backed away from
a good length delivery.
Steyn enjoyed a wonderful morning as he claimed his 19th
five-wicket haul in tests as he sent down a spell that
produced figures of 5-3-3-3.
Watling and Trent Boult (17 not out) then provided some late
resistance with a last-wicket stand that produced 59 runs, a
New Zealand record 10th-wicket partnership against South
Africa beating the 57 scored by Simon Doull and Richard de
Groen scored in Johannesburg during the 1994/95 season.
The aggressive Watling was the last man out, caught at first
slip off the bowling of paceman Morne Morkel.
South Africa hold a 1-0 series lead.
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