There might have been a fightback from New Zealand yesterday, but a series defeat is still their most likely outcome, with something of a miracle needed against South Africa at Centurion. Join The Roar for live scores of Day 4 from 6pm (AEST).
South Africa might have made the pitch look a lot better than what it actually is for this second and final Test of the series, with runs being hard to come by since they made a mockery of the New Zealand attack over the first day and a half.
Of course, their first innings ended at 8 for 481, before they had New Zealand 3 for next to nothing by stumps on Day 1.
New Zealand launched somewhat of a fightback getting to 214 on the back of a 77 run effort from captain Kane Williamson – he is the key to the Kiwis batting lineup but as will be the case in the second innings he can’t do it all alone.
The wickets for the Proteas were very much shared around, but they will be disappointed by the fact they went to stumps 6 for 105 on the back of a Quinton de Kock half century.
Still it leaves them with an almost unassailable lead of 372, and the Kiwis have plenty of work to do if they want to factor in this match tomorrow.
Day 4 Prediction
The chase is way too big for the Kiwis given how the pitch is playing, and the fact their top order hasn’t looked like building a score once – the only questions left to be answered now is whether they can either hang on for a draw, or at what point they lose the match.
Given South Africa still have four wickets left in their second innings, and the weather isn’t threatening at all at least according to the forecast, they will still want to bat for a while and take the lead out over the 400 mark.
From there, New Zealand will need to just play every ball on its merits. There is far too long left in the match for it to be a draw, so if they bat that way then they will be in a position to win at some point tomorrow afternoon.
To be fair, defensive and time in the middle is the only way their top order might get cracking. Still, Dale Steyn and Vermon Philander should almost have South Africa at victory by the close of play.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of Day 4 from 6pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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