Patience paid off for South Africa captain Faf du Plessis as he was rewarded with three quick wickets after grinding out a century on Day 2 of the second Test against New Zealand on Sunday.
New Zealand finished the day at SuperSport Park on 38 for three, 443 runs behind South Africa’s first innings total of 481 for eight declared.
Du Plessis made 112 not out off 234 balls and said he had stuck to a plan.
“There is a lot happening in the wicket and we just needed one guy to anchor the innings and keep them out there as long as possible,” he said.
“The plan right from the beginning was to try to get to 400, which is a good score on this wicket, and then have a little dip at them at the end of the day.”
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In an era of rapid scoring in Test cricket, much of South Africa’s innings was a return to a more attritional age, with the run rate hovering at around three an over.
Du Plessis was particularly cautious as he tiptoed to a fifth Test century off 225 balls.
But it paid off as reunited fast bowling pair Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander ripped out both openers before Ross Taylor was run out.
It left New Zealand in deep trouble in a match which will decide the series after the weather-hit, abandoned first Test in Durban.
Martin Guptill survived a sharp chance to Stiaan van Zyl at third slip off Philander when he was on four, with the ball bursting through the fielder’s hands for four more runs.
But he gave a more straightforward chance to the same fielder in Philander’s next over without adding to his score.
Steyn then had the left-handed Tom Latham caught behind off an inside edge for four, although it seemed a controversial decision. Umpire Paul Reiffel gave the batsman not out and South Africa sought a review.
It was clear that the ball had deviated off the batsman’s trousers but only the faintest flicker on the ultra-edge device gave any indication that it had touched the bat first.
But television umpire Richard Illingworth decided it was enough evidence to overturn his colleague’s decision.
Much then depended on New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and Taylor, his most experienced teammate.
Taylor was struck twice, on the shoulder and arm, by lifting deliveries from Steyn and scored only one before pushing a ball from Kagiso Rabada to midwicket. He set off for a run, was sent back by Williamson and was beaten by a direct hit from Temba Bavuma.
Pretoria-born Neil Wagner was New Zealand’s most successful bowler, taking five for 86.
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