Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson looked to be in an unperturbed mood against a bunch of inexperienced South Africans. After the controversial decision of choosing an assortment of newcomers for the Test match, all eyes were fixed at Mount Maunganui. The South African team predictably struggled against seasoned veterans of the New Zealand team. The two Kiwi top order batsmen would be looking to amass a huge total to put the visitors under more pressure in the First test.
Team Lineups
The South African board made a controversial decision by choosing a much weaker side. None of the players who played in the second Test against India at Newlands were chosen for the New Zealand tour. Neil Brand was chosen as the stand-in skipper for South Africa for the tests against New Zealand. The 27 year old has played 52 first class games but has never appeared for the national team in any format. Duanne Olivier is the most experienced player in the team having played 15 previous Test matches. Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza are the other players who have some experience in international cricket.
There were six debutants in the first team of South Africa including the skipper. Batsmen Edward Moore and Raynard van Tonder were among the debutants. Pace bowler Tshepo Moreki and wicketkeeper batsman appeared in the Test team for the first time ever. All-rounder Ruan de Swardt completed the group of debutants. The regular faces on the Test circuit were busy in the domestic T20 league of South Africa. Dane Paterson would lead the South African bowling attack with Duanne Olivier bringing the experience to the fore.
New Zealand made two alterations to the team that played in the second Test match against Bangladesh back in December. After shining for the Kiwis in the 2023 World Cup, Rachin Ravindra made an inspirational comeback to the Test arena after some time.
The 24 year old is yet to find his feet in the Test arena. He has scored 73 runs and claimed eight wickets in his short Test career of three Tests. Middle order batsman Henry Nicholls made way for the young all-rounder. Matt Henry came into the team to replace the left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. After his meteoric rise to the international stage, Devon Conway has been struggling for form over the last 12 months. The 32 year old would look to score some runs at the top of the order against the country of his birth.
Trent Boult remains missing from the Test squad due to his commitment to the T20 franchise leagues. Tim Southee would lead the bowling line-up as well as the team. After a bright start to his Test career, Kyle Jamieson has been performing below par with the ball. Daryl Mitchell would be a player to watch after his heroic performances with the bat over the last two years.
New Zealand
1. Tom Latham 2. Devon Conway 3. Kane Williamson 4. Rachin Ravindra 5. Daryl Mitchell 6. Tom Blundell (WK) 7. Glenn Phillps 8. Mitchell Satner 9. Kyle Jamieson 10. Matt Henry 11. Tim Southee (Cap.)
South Africa
1 Neil Brand (capt), 2 Edward Moore, 3 Raynard van Tonder, 4 Zubayr Hamza, 5 David Bedingham, 6 Keegan Peterson, 7 Ruan de Swardt, 8 Clyde Fortuin (wk), 9 Duanne Olivier, 10 Tshepo Moreki 11 Dane Paterson
South Africa’s debutant stand-in skipper Neil Brand won the coin toss and made a surprising decision to bat first on a solid wicket. The pitch at the Bay Oval is usually a high scoring ground with big totals scored at this ground on a regular basis. The average first innings total at this ground is 272. Teams batting first have won more matches than teams that bowled first. None of the four Test matches at this ground has ended in a draw. In the last two Tests, New Zealand have failed to win. England and Bangladesh have secured impressive wins in the two latest games.
The boundaries at this ground are short and huge totals are a regular occurrence at this ground. The pace bowlers might get some assist off the surface with the new ball moving all around the pitch under overcast conditions. The spin bowlers usually find their life difficult with virtually no hint of moisture on the surface. There can be some assistance off the pitch if the pitch deteriorates on the fourth and fifth days.
Fixture
New Zealand and South Africa have met on 47 occasions before this Test. There is a clear pattern in domination between the two sides. South Africa is clear of their Kiwi counterparts with 26 wins. New Zealand has managed only 5 wins from this fixture. 16 of matches have finished in draws. In the tests on New Zealand soil, The home team has secured 2 wins. New Zealand has been a happy hunting ground for the Proteas who have secured nine victories in this Oceanian country. The last Test series between these two teams was played during the 2021-22 season. That two match series ended in a 1-1 draw.
| Venue | The first game of the two match series was played in the picturesque Bay Oval Cricket Ground in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga. |
| Date | The game started on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 10:30. local time. |
Captaincy & Tactics
Rachin Ravindra scored his first test century and Kane Williamson his 30th in an unbroken stand of 219 as New Zealand put on 258 for two on the opening day of the first test against a depleted South Africa at Bay Oval on Sunday.
South Africa chose to bowl after winning the toss and made immediate inroads in the second over when Tshepo Moreki, one of six debutants in the Proteas team, removed Devon Conway’s leg before with his first delivery in test cricket.
The more experienced Dane Paterson had the other Black Caps opener, Tom Blundell, edge behind for 20 but that only brought the in-form Ravindra and former skipper Williamson together on a bright, sunny day at Mount Maunganui.
Showing great patience as South Africa tried to suffocate them with accurate seam bowling, the pair took their time to score and were still safely at the crease at the close of play.
Ravindra will resume on 118 not out with Williamson unbeaten on 112.
Williamson did get frustrated at one point in his innings and Ruan de Swardt (0-24) will count himself unlucky that the master batsman’s attempt to slog the seamer over the covers did not end up in the hands of Edward Moore.
The 33-year-old was soon cracking another four to reach the half-century mark for the 34th time in his 97th test, however, and he converted it into another century with his 13th boundary.
Ravindra, 24, also got life off the luckless de Swardt when he was on 80, his top edge flying towards Duanne Olivier at backward square leg only for the fielder to misjudge it running forwards.
The all-rounder, who was recently named ICC Emerging Player of the Year, was playing his first test for two years and made it one to remember when he reached the hundred mark half an hour before stumps with two runs through backward square leg.
The Proteas team named at the toss was unrecognisable from the side that split a series with India over the New Year as Cricket South Africa prioritises the Twenty20 competition (SA20) on which its financial survival depends.
Moreki deserved better than his 1-81 and all four seamers might have welcomed Neil Brand, who was also making his test debut as captain, offering his left-arm finger spin before the final session. “Fair play to Kane and Ravindra, they played well,” said seamer Olivier. “I feel we bowled really well in the first two sessions and then maybe let it go a little bit. “Still four days to go and a lot can happen.” The second test takes place in Hamilton from Feb. 13.
Batting Analysis
The Proteas lost both of their openers Neil Brand and Edward Moore for mere three runs on the scoreboard. The middle order batters Zubayr Hamza (36) and Raynard van Tonder (31) kept blocking deliveries and batted more than 100 minutes to carry South Africa to lunch without further loss. The duo showcased resilience for a long time before losing their wickets in quick succession immediately after the Lunch break, hastening the end.
However, David Bedingham lifted South Africa’s hopes after lunch with a career-best knock of 87 from 96 balls in a partnership of 105 for the fifth wicket with Keegan Petersen (16). Bedingham adapted attacking approach, smashing boundaries every now and then, hitting 13 fours and a six while Petersen was keen to play his natural game till the time of tea break.
The Kiwis brilliantly planned Bendingham’s dismissal, setting him up on a short delivery. The 29-year-old chased a short ball and top edged it while attempting a pull against Kyle Jamieson after the tea interval. Petersen attempted to hook a ball which bounced to chest height and Rachin Ravindra caught him at fine leg. Subsequently, the inexperienced visitors showed no fight whatsoever and lost six wickets inside a meager 69 runs.
Clyde Fortuin’s dismissal was indicative of the bad luck South Africa has had throughout the test. He pushed a short ball from part-time spinner Glenn Phillips which deflected after hitting the knee of Tom Latham as he ducked at short leg and flew up to be caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.
The end finally came 40 minutes before scheduled stumps when Dane Paterson holed out to Williamson from Santner’s bowling.
New Zealand’s win was set up on the very first day when Williamson and Ravindra slammed daddy hundreds in a massive partnership of 232 runs. The former skipper fell early on the second day but Ravindra turned his maiden test century into a double century before he was out for 240. The 24-year-old also took his first two wickets in tests in the first innings as New Zealand took control of the match.
Moreki deserved much more than he got on day one. The young fast bowler showed plenty of courage and determination while bowling against a in-form pair. He pitched 64% of his deliveries on the good length and a tight line outside the off stump. He induced several false strokes from the batters but eventually had to end the day with only one wicket to his name.
The debutant captain Neil Brand also bowled well. He showed maturity with the ball while attacking the stumps. He was not afraid to offer some flight to the batsmen who looked to score runs on the front foot.
Bowling Analysis
While chasing, the Proteas openers failed to give them a good start and were sent back by Tim Southee and Matt Henry pretty quickly. However, Raynard van Tonder and Zubayr Hamza steadied the ship after that till Lunch, but couldn’t make much of their starts as they fell victim to Kyle Jamieson early in the second session. After that, the pair of Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham stepped up and showed some good batting skills along with a solid defence adding 105 runs together. Bedingham was bombarded with short balls by the Kiwis, but he counter-attacked and smacked them away registering a fine half-century.
He was able to handle that game plan effectively before Tea, but in the third session, he holed out, trying to take on Kyle Jamieson again. He smashed 87 off just 96 balls and just missed out on a maiden Test hundred, but unfortunately for the Proteas, his partner followed suit and became the fourth victim for Jamieson.
Mitchell Santner got into the act and removed two batters to take his side close to the win. Dane Paterson and Ruan de Swardt wagged around for a bit, scoring a few runs that will give them a bit of confidence for the next game. Jamieson created a big chance for his fifer, but Matt Henry spilled out, and it was Santner who wrapped things up to seal a big win for the Kiwis.
The surface at the Bay Oval looked flat and easy for the batting. The first hour of play offered assistance for the pace bowlers who was getting some purchase off the surface. However, after the first 15 overs, the movement was mostly non-existent with the batsman timing the ball perfectly from that point on.
Fielding Analysis
The fielding of the Proteas team was not up to the mark. The men from South Africa were left to rue a dropped catch by Keegan Peterson. The right-hander was fielding at backward point when a miscued Rachin Ravindra pullshot found him out perfectly. However, the 27 year old looked settled under the ball to gobble it. But eventually he took his eye of the ball just at the last minute and dropped the ball.
The Kiwi fielders completed two catches that came their way. They were quick off the blocks and throwing to the wicketkeeper was pinpoint. However, there was not enough chances created during the day’s play with Williamson and Ravindra flourishing with the bat.
Key Performances
New Zealand dominated the first innings, amassing 511 runs over 144 overs and 5 sessions. Kane Williamson’s solid 118 and Rachin Ravindra’s exceptional 240 laid the foundation for the Kiwis’ substantial lead against South Africa. Despite Neil Brand’s remarkable 6-wicket haul as the Proteas’ debut skipper, quickfire contributions from Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, and Matt Henry helped New Zealand breach the 500-run mark.
In response, South Africa struggled against the strong Kiwi bowling attack, failing to build significant partnerships despite starts from Edward Moore, Zubayr Hamza, and David Bedingham. Keegan Petersen top-scored with 45 runs, but South Africa collapsed for 162, trailing by 349 runs. The sorry-looking batting scorecard reflected their inability to counter New Zealand’s bowling onslaught, leaving them facing an uphill battle.
Turning Point
The turning point of the first day came after Rachin Ravindra came out to bat with Kane Williamson. The pair scored a partnership of unbeaten 219 runs with shots played all around the ground. New Zealand dominated the first innings, amassing 511 runs over 144 overs and 5 sessions. Kane Williamson’s solid 118 and Rachin Ravindra’s exceptional 240 laid the foundation for the Kiwis’ substantial lead against South Africa.
Despite Neil Brand’s remarkable 6-wicket haul as the Proteas’ debut skipper, quickfire contributions from Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, and Matt Henry helped New Zealand breach the 500-run mark. In response, South Africa struggled against the strong Kiwi bowling attack, failing to build significant partnerships despite starts from Edward Moore, Zubayr Hamza, and David Bedingham. Keegan Petersen top-scored with 45 runs, but South Africa collapsed for 162, trailing by 349 runs. The sorry-looking batting scorecard reflected their inability to counter New Zealand’s bowling onslaught, leaving them facing an uphill battle.
Day Result
New Zealand are 258 runs ahead at the end of play on day one.
Brief Scorecard
| New Zealand First Innings: 258/2 (83 overs) | South Africa First Innings: Did not Bat |
| Rachin Ravindra 105 (189) | |
| Kane Williamson 118 (192) | |
| Tshepo Moreki 1/45 (17 overs) | |
| Neil Brand 1/75 (25 overs) |
Day Highlights
Day Wrap-Up
The inexperienced Proteas players are already struggling against a strong New Zealand side. The New Zealand batters have chosen to play a patient game with a run rate below 3 on the first day. Rachin Ravindra finally looked like he has been able to transfer his white ball cricket form to the longer version of the game. Kane Williamson’s innings oozed class right from the beginning. The pair put on a 219 runs unbeaten stand to heap misery for the visitors. The Proteas bowling attack are in for a stern test against the batting might of the hosts.
