Dale Steyn and Rory Kleinveldt ripped out New Zealand’s top order batsmen as South Africa took control on the second day of the second and final Test at St George’s Park on Saturday.
New Zealand were reeling at 6-47 at the close, a massive 478 behind South Africa’s first innings total of 8-525 declared, needing another 279 to avoid the follow on.
There were three centurions in the South African innings, with Faf du Plessis (137) and Dean Elgar (103 not out) joining first day hero Hashim Amla, who added only four to his overnight score before being dismissed for 110.
Steyn, bowling his fastest spell of the summer, had Martin Guptill (1) and Kane Williamson (4) caught in the slips in his first three overs.
Then the strongly-built Kleinveldt, who replaced the injured Vernon Philander, produced a snorter of a delivery to have Dean Brownlie (10) caught behind off his gloves. Kleinveldt followed up with a full ball which trapped Daniel Flynn (0) leg before wicket.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum survived the pace bowling onslaught, only to succumb to the second ball of spin.
He played a loose drive against left-arm spinner Robin Peterson to be caught at slip for 13, eked out over 98 minutes and 61 balls.
New Zealand’s woes continued when debutant Colin Munro was out first ball, caught at short leg off Peterson.
New Zealand were 6-39 and in danger of being dismissed for fewer than the disastrous 45 all out which doomed them to an innings defeat in the first Test in Cape Town.
But that humiliation was avoided when BJ Watling (15no) cut Steyn for four in the last over of the day.
“South Africa are the No.1 side for a reason and we are the No.8 side for a reason,” said New Zealand coach Mike Heeson.
“Our players are trying their very best, but at the moment we are being completely outclassed.”
South Africa were made to struggle for runs early, adding only 65 runs in 29 overs before lunch on Saturday.
The first 11 overs produced only 11 runs for the loss of Amla’s wicket as Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell bowled accurately in overcast conditions.
Du Plessis and Elgar played through the difficult period and lifted the tempo during the afternoon.
They shared a sixth wicket stand of 131, a record for South Africa against New Zealand as the home side added 105 runs between lunch and tea.
Du Plessis, stuck on 99 at lunch, reached his century when he hit the first ball he received after the interval, from off-spinner Jeetan Patel, for six.
The left-handed Elgar, struggling to establish himself in a strong South African batting line-up, played some fine attacking shots, particularly against off-spinner Jeetan Patel, and hit left-arm pace bowler Neil Wagner for a soaring six over long-on as he attempted to reach his maiden century before tea.
He was on 91 at tea and the declaration was delayed until he reached his hundred in the sixth over after the break.
Ben
Guest
What I would like to see is that the ICC, sit down and have a Chat with both Australia and New Zealand Cricket Boards about NZ Cricket standards and how New Zealand teams can enter the Australian Domestic Leagues. This is what I would like to see happen. Sheffield Shield 2 x Domestic New Zealand Teams Both teams CAN NOT have the Title New Zealand. 1 x North Island (Auckland) 1 x South Island (Christchurch) Ryobi Cup Same 2 Teams from the Sheffield Shield Competition Big Bash League 3 x BBL Teams. ( Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) 4th Team coming from Australia either from North Queensland or Newcastle. This would extend Extend an 8 Team comp to 12 Teams New Zealand Needs 2 Cricket teams in the Australian Domestic Comp. To help fuel New Zealand players to better Competition and a higher level of standard, plus the "Cross Town Rivalry or Island Rivalry" keeps the spectator keen. And would hopefully draw crowds. New Zealand to align with the Australian Cricket Summer, so both Australian and New Zealand Cricket Boards can work out their own International Schedules. New Zealand Pitches must meet Australian Standards, both Grounds must have their own identities, and stay true over the years. As Australian Pitches. (No more green pitches) In return the Australian Teams and Players will benefit from playing on different style of pitches with more of an English feel. Plus this expands Australian Cricket, especially the Big Bash league. .
Bob
Guest
How about NZ Cricket take an interest in red ball cricket again. First cass season is virtually non-existant and there is no transition for young cricketers to learn how to play test cricket. In NZ its all bash and wallop pyjama stuff.
Paul
Guest
NZ should have a north and south team (or something similiar like s14 rugby) playing in Oz domestic cricket and use the provinces as feeder teams, I do recall that NZ did play in australia's domestic ODI competition with a side in the late 1970s and early 1980s.Scotland and Netherlands have been playing in the lower English County championship divisions in both forms of the game. South Africa has also allowed Zimbabwe to play in their domestic competition in the past. Zimbabwe also now play Uganda and Kenya sides in a domestic competition for T20 (not sure about other forms of the game). As my Mother is from NZ I have always had an interest in NZ cricket as my second favourite team. I feel sorry for the beige cap brigade at the moment it must be absolutely frusting at the moment watching them. There problem I reckon is in both batting and bowling. Bring on Bangladesh for them!
Dadiggle
Guest
When was that? When Martin Crowe used to use his feet unlike the stand and deliver stuff batsman from modern Kiwi batsman?
Dadiggle
Guest
Yes that was like two NZ innings and 500 runs ago......
Dadiggle
Guest
And that is how you thrash a weaker team Australia. Not play with them like you did against Sri Lanka. Next up is the Bookies from Pakistan
Felix
Guest
What a place to bowl a bouncer not a short ball,a couple of painfull bodies tonight,signs it bieng a good bouncer pitch was when smith got hit on the helmet ha ha ha ha
mactheblack
Guest
I am attending the 2nd test in Port Elizabeth. Some guys criticising the Kwis, don't seem to give enough credit to South Africa. That is an awesome bowling attack the Proteas have and enough cannot be said about it. Not only is it well balanced and varied - but can work in tandem when the hunt is on. Depth in their batting too. If Dean Elgar can score a century at No 7 it makes a statement. The No.1 Test nation playing the No. 8 - and the gulf is plain to see. However, it worries me how some of the Kiwi batsmen have been folding and caving in and running like scared rabbits. Jeetan Patel's stepping away to leg to be castled by Dale Steyn in the first innings in PE pretty much summed up the NZ batting - clueless to dealing with the swing and pace of the South Africans. So let's run if we can't hide is the approach. The Saffers at the moment can knock off the best, but you still have to find ways of being competitive and not prone to being rolled over like that. It seems the Kiwis are not even trying to repel the onslaught. Kane Williamson being "softened up" by Morne Morkel before Steyn did the damage, shows the white-flag syndrome the Black Caps have adopted Now the other thing one must understand is that the South African attack is also being helped by conditions - both in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Conditions on the first two days were helpful (overcast skies, and easterly when Kiwis batted). On Day three in their follow-on innings, BJ Watling and Fynn, and to a certain extent, Martin Guptill, showed what happens once the sun bakes down on the St George's Park track and the easterly is not there to assist the bowlers. NO seam no swing. They dealt quite competently with the SA onslaught. But really we don't expect Test sides to fold like the Kiwis have. Thank goodness, they did not suffer the ignominy of the lowest first innings total at St George's of 89 all out - way back in 1889! And that's thanks to Watling and Trent Boult! But please I am squirming at suggestions from blogs etc, that the SA attack can be compared to the West Indies fast bowling quartet of the 80s - Marshall, Croft, Roberts and Holding. Great bowling attack South Africa has - but they will have to go some way to being regarded in the same breath. Beating England and Australia away does however lay a strong foundation. By the way, McCullum doesn't cut it as captain, and sack the coach after this tour! New Zealand has to toughen up its cricket players - they have the talent as is evidenced by Williamson, Brownlie, Boult etc.
Don Corleone
Guest
I, like you, remember the days when NZ were a formidable cricket outfit. I'd like to see a NZ Big Bash team along with a Canberra team..the only thing is that NZ has it's own T20 tournament (HRV Cup) running alongside the BBL but it looks like a smaller scale competition.
Jason Cave
Guest
When I first started watching cricket in the 1980s, New Zealand was one of the top 2-3 teams in the world, with the all-conquering West Indies numero uno. NZ Cricket has gone backwards at a billion miles an hour. While NZ cricket fans long to see the next Sir Richard Hadlee, the next Bruce Edgar, the next Geoffrey Howarth (in terms of captaincy), sadly, it's not going to happen. As what could be done to improve NZ cricket, one idea comes to mind. And it is this: Have a NZ team involved in the Australian T20 Big Bash League. The Sydney Thunder could be relocated to either Newcastle or Canberra, to allow the admission of a NZ-based side into the T20 Big Bash. The problem is, where would the NZ team be based at? Simple: Eden Park, Auckland the NZ Big Bash League team's HQ. After all, if a NZ team can compete in 1) the NRL Telstra Premiership, 2) Hyundai A-League, 3) ANZ netball Championship, 4) SupeRugby Championship (alongside their South African and Australian counterparts, surely a NZ side based out of Auckland competing in the T20 Big Bash League wouldn't be a bad thing.
Red Baron
Guest
I've always wondered why Cricket Australia doesn't include one, two or even three NZ teams in its domestic comps. It's not like the comps don't have room to expand. I also loved seeing the Kiwis play in the Big Bash League.
Perhaps then SA should adopt that attitude with sharing their Revenue in Superrugby? No even split, we take our fair share, as you say, dog eat dog.
Montero
Roar Rookie
Well why would I care though? Australian Cricket has enough troubles of its own to sort out rather than worrying about others. What benefits would we get by letting New Zealand Cricketers into our comps, apart from weakening them? Dog-eat-dog world, mate. Got to look after yourself, because no one else will.
The Bush
Roar Guru
World Champions in Rugby League, have qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice, have won a hell of a lot of Olympic medals for a country their size (think Ireland is their population equivalent). They beat Australia in the '80s at cricket, even if we were at our worst and they had Hadlee. People expect too much of a country if just 4m people - Kiwis perform well above expectation. I am Australia by the way.
colvin
Guest
Well, we got eight of their wickets. Now all the boys need to do is win this match and the series will be all square.
geoffo
Guest
"These things go in cycles , the Kiwis will be back" - i'd suggest they have never been there in the first place when it comes to test cricket. In fact the Kiwis are a pretty disappointing sporting nation outside of rugby union. They have had their moments in women's netball (chiefly due to a South African import) , had the odd athlete and golfer , but generally one feels that the overwhelming concentration on union i acts very much to the detriment of other sports.
Dadiggle
Guest
Like Vettori have done much against South Africa in the test arena. Not the Kiwi's bowling that is the problem. It is their stand and deliver batting which consist of less footwork than you would find in Wheelchair rugby
Nice attitude there, mate.
WEST
Roar Guru
I just want to know do the black caps spend any time in the nets........you know practice. That thing that you do to get BETTER!!!!. You make a mistake, learn from it not keep reapeating the same rubbish over and over and wish for a bad team to have a bad day to win. Thats all they seem to handle these days. What is the coach doing, how can he sleep at night, Discipline, is that a major factor, or should say the complete lack of. Im just getting over it. I would love nothing better than to com on here and say. HOLY Crap we smoked em. WE need players with commitment and courage, and can back themselves..
Montero
Roar Rookie
And why would Australian Cricket agree with letting in more New Zealand Cricketers into their comps? What's in it for them?