South Africa are in a commanding position to take the second Test and series, with a draw now looking likely to be the best option for New Zealand, who will need to put in a massive recovery effort. Join The Roar for live scores of Day 3 from 6pm (AEST).
The Proteas have played a very convincing two days of cricket to go with the one and a half from the first Test, and from here it looks like there is next to no chance of them losing.
The first Test of course, which was absolutely destroyed by the weather in Durban saw South Africa run up a reasonable score that was looking under par at the time – of course, a pitch should never be judged until both teams have batted and nowhere was it truer than in the first match of this series.
New Zealand were eventually saved by rain, but the same won’t happen this time. South Africa piled up a massive 8 declared for 481 in their first innings with each of their batsmen getting going and captain Faf Du Plessis top scoring on 112 not out.
The bowling attack had nothing – they couldn’t land the ball or make it do what they wanted but Dale Steyn and Vermon Philander proved there could be plenty extracted from the pitch in a short stint at the end of yesterday.
They have already reduced New Zealand to 3 for 38, once again removing openers Tom Latham and Martin Guptill cheaply, with Ross Taylor being run out.
With no chance of any Durban like weather, we should once again get another full day’s play.
Day 3 Prediction
The bookies have the Kiwis at $45 to win from here, and it’s hard to argue with them. Their top order looked like it was rolling over in the first Test and did the same yesterday. Kane Williamson might be able to spark something, but they are chasing an above par score with a team that looks underdone.
Expect them to be knocked over pretty quickly, maybe getting halfway through the second session if Williamson puts up a fight, with South Africa building a handsome lead by stumps and batting them right out of the Test match.
This could be over tomorrow, but as a contest with any chance of a revival (which is already slim) it will be all over by stumps today.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of Day 3 from 6pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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T-Bone
Guest
Lovin this match. Plenty of short pitched bowling and grunt from Steyn, Rabada, Wagner and co. Best thing about Test cricket is when bowlers are intimidating and on the attack, and this game has that in spades
Blake
Guest
Now there is a reason why M.Johnson's bouncers were deadly is SA. It has to be a 1 of a kind pitch where good short bowling can be just as effective as good line and length,just a mater of directing it accurately.