David Bedingham stole the limelight during the early hours of the second Test between New Zealand and South Africa with a stunning century. However, a fiery late spell from Will O’Rourke made sure the New Zealanders would be still in contention for a series sweep. The match and series still hang in the balance as a thrilling day four awaits. New Zealand is still looking for their first ever Test series win against the Proteas.
Team Lineups
South African made a controversial call of fielding six debutants during the first Test match. The Proteas have been criticised for ignoring Test wicket in favour of their own T20 franchise. Most of the regular faces of South Africa’s Test team are busy playing in the SA T20 tournament. So, Neil Brand was brought in to captain the side during the tour of New Zealand. T
The 27 year old finger spinner was one of the six debutants who took the field at Bay Oval. Duanne Olivier was the most experienced member of the team in the first test. However, the 31 year old pacer got dropped from the team in favour of Dane Piedt. Piedt got selected for the South African team after a break of four and a half years. Opener Edward Moore was also axed from the line-up. 37 year old spin all-rounder Shaun van Borg was given his debut. Clyde Fortuin was promoted up the order to fill the vacant spot of Moore.
New Zealand made three changes to their team that beat New Zealand comprehensively in the first year. Daryl Mitchell has been struggling with a recurring foot injury. The 31 year old has been ruled out for this series and the one against Australia. Will Young came to the team to replace him. The Kiwis opted for more pace with the inclusion of Neil Wagner in the place of Mitch Santner. The 37 year old Pretoria-born pacer plays his first Test match in 15 months. Despite impressing with the ball in the first Test, Kyle Jamieson was not considered for this match. Young pace sensation Will O’Rourke was selected to represent his country for the first time on the Test arena. O’Rourke has played 3 ODis before this match.
New Zealand
1. Tom Latham 2. Devon Conway 3. Kane Williamson 4. Rachin Ravindra 5. Will Young 6. Tom Blundell (WK) 7. Glenn Phillps 8. Matt Henry 9. Tim Southee (Cap.) 10. Neil Wagner 11. Will O’Rourke
South Africa
- Neil Brand (Cap.) 2. Clyde Fortuin (WK) 3. Raynard van Tonder 4. Zubyar Hamza 5. David Bedingham 6. Keegan Petersen 7. Ruan de Swardt 8. Shaun von Berg 9. Dane Pledt 10. Tshepo Moreki 11. Dane Paterson
South Africa’s stand-in skipper Neil Brand won the coin toss and made a predictable decision to bat first on a solid wicket. The playing surface at the Bay Oval is known to assist the bowlers. The fast bowlers in particular, can play a key role with the new ball. If they can exploit the existing conditions effectively, the batsmen will be in trouble while negotiating the new ball. There is significant movement and bounce in the early parts of the innings. But once the dust settles, the batsmen would also enjoy batting on the surface. The ball would come perfectly into the bat and the batsmen would be able to make some strokes.
27 games have been played at this ground till date. The average first innings total of 312 is an indication of the ground’s inclination towards producing a high scoring match. Surprisingly, the average second innings score is higher. The teams that have batted second, have amassed an average total of 328 in their innings. The teams that have batted second have won 10 matches. The teams batting first won on nine occasions. So, it is an evenly balanced battle.
Fixture
New Zealand and South Africa have met on 48 occasions before this Test. There is a clear pattern in dominance between the two sides. South Africa is clear of their Kiwi counterparts with 26 wins. New Zealand has managed only 6 wins from this fixture. 16 matches have finished in draws. In the tests on New Zealand soil, the home team has secured three 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 second and final game of the two match series was played at the iconic Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand. |
| Date | The game started on Tuesday, February 14, 2024, at 10:30. local time. |
Captaincy & Tactics
In an impressive display of skill and determination, David Bedingham orchestrated a magnificent maiden century, propelling an often underestimated South African lineup to a commanding 266-run lead over New Zealand on the enthralling third day of the second cricket test match.
Despite losing Devon Conway to the dismissive off-spin of Dane Piedt on the final ball of the day, New Zealand finished at 40-1 at stumps, trailing by a significant margin of 226 runs with two full days of play remaining. Tom Latham stood unbeaten on 21, steadying the New Zealand innings amidst the formidable challenge posed by the South African bowlers.
Bedingham’s stellar innings, culminating in a career-best 110, along with a pivotal 98-run partnership with Keegan Peterson (43), showcased a resilient Proteas side that defied odds and seized control of the match. Amidst pre-series doubts and low expectations, South Africa found themselves in a commanding position, setting a daunting target for New Zealand to chase.
With key players absent due to domestic T20 commitments, the Proteas faced the looming threat of a historic series defeat against New Zealand after succumbing to a heavy loss in the first test. Bedingham’s heroic efforts have breathed new life into South Africa’s campaign, offering hope of salvaging the series with determined performances on the field.
However, the Proteas’ promising lead was cut short as a spirited bowling display from tall paceman Will O’Rourke, claiming remarkable figures of 5-34 on debut, and the invaluable contributions of Glenn Phillips, who snared two wickets and two catches, triggered a dramatic collapse in the South African innings. O’Rourke’s exceptional match haul of 9-93 not only marked a sensational debut performance but also etched his name in the record books as the best debut figures by a New Zealand bowler.
Reflecting on his standout performance, O’Rourke expressed his satisfaction with his bowling rhythm and the support from the pitch that allowed for bounce and movement. Despite battling nerves during crucial moments in the match, O’Rourke acknowledged his occasional lapses in control while remaining proud of his overall contribution to the team’s success.
As the match heads towards a thrilling conclusion, the chase ahead for New Zealand poses a significant challenge, with the highest successful fourth-innings run chase in New Zealand standing at 345, achieved by the West Indies at Eden Park, Auckland in 1969. The stage is set for an exciting battle between bat and ball as both teams aim to assert their dominance and claim victory in this gripping test encounter.
Batting Analysis
Will O’Rourke’s exceptional performance, claiming a five-wicket haul on his Test debut, significantly bolstered New Zealand’s position in the match following David Bedingham’s stellar century on day three of the thrilling second Test in Hamilton. South Africa, starting from a strong position at 202 for 4, inexplicably collapsed, losing their last six wickets for a mere 33 runs during the final session. This collapse set New Zealand a challenging target of 267 runs.
At the close of play, New Zealand stood at 40 for 1, with the unfortunate dismissal of Devon Conway off the final delivery of the day by Dane Piedt. The game hangs in the balance as New Zealand requires a formidable 227 runs to win, while South Africa aims to take nine crucial wickets on day four.
If New Zealand manages to successfully chase down the target, it will mark the highest successful run chase at Seddon Park, surpassing Australia’s memorable chase of 210 runs back in 2000.
New Zealand’s day started strongly with early breakthroughs, courtesy of O’Rourke’s impactful spell that accounted for two wickets and Rachin Ravindra claiming one scalp. Despite Neil Brand’s brief resistance, contributing a gritty 34 off 60 balls, South Africa found momentum through the partnership of Bedingham and Zubayr Hamza. Bedingham, in particular, capitalized on loose deliveries, especially from Ravindra, as South Africa managed to score briskly before lunch.
The narrative shifted post-lunch as Matt Henry and O’Rourke troubled the batsmen, inducing caution from the South African duo. An intriguing tactical delay saw Neil Wagner’s entry into the bowling attack after 36 overs, and he swiftly broke the partnership by dismissing an eager Hamza with a well-directed short ball.
Bowling Analysis
As Bedingham and Keegan Petersen anchored the innings with a vital partnership, Bedingham’s composure and astute shot selection shone through. With a mix of aggression and calculated stroke play, Bedingham’s innings of 110 off 141 deliveries, embellished with 12 boundaries and two sixes, showcased his prowess and experience from numerous first-class matches.
Petersen, on the other hand, displayed resilience against both spin and pace, providing valuable support in the middle session. The duo’s partnership of 98 runs for the fifth wicket appeared to steer South Africa towards a commanding position by tea.
However, a sudden collapse instigated by Henry’s breakthrough, culminating in Petersen’s dismissal for 43 with a spectacular catch by Glenn Phillips at gully, shifted the momentum back in New Zealand’s favor. Phillips, showcasing his all-round skills, further dented the South African batting line-up by clean bowling Ruan de Swardt.
Nonetheless, it was O’Rourke who once again emerged as the game-changer, ousting Bedingham with a well-directed delivery that found its way to Phillips at gully. Displaying excellent pace and accuracy, O’Rourke’s crucial wickets decimated South Africa’s resistance in the final session, sealing a memorable victory for New Zealand.
With a remarkable match haul of 9 for 93, O’Rourke etched his name into the record books, registering the best bowling figures on Test debut for a New Zealand bowler.
Key Performances
After his first innings heroics with the ball in hand, Will O’Rourke repeated that feat in the second innings. The English-born pace bowler claimed a fifer for the first time in his Test career. With the match figures of 9 for 93, O’Rourke has smashed the record for the best bowling figures for a Kiwi on debut. The previous record was held by Mark Craig, who claimed 8 for 188 on his first Test against the West Indies in Kingston back in 2014. O’Rourke’s inspirational spell of pace bowling came just at the right time as the visitors seemed to be running away with it. Glenn Phillps has been known for his knack of picking up important wickets for his team. The part-timer did a decent job by picking up two wickets for 50 runs. Matt Henry, Rachin Ravindra and Neil Wagner picked one wicket apiece.
David Bedingham just missed out on a century in the first Test match. The 30 year old middle order batsman finally got his maiden century for his country. His fighting innings for 110 off 141 balls provided crucial runs for the visitors. His fifth wicket partnership with Keegan Petersen put South Africa ahead in the contest. Petersen himself played a solid innings of 43 runs from 79 balls with six boundaries. The South African skipper Neil Brand played a patient knock of 34 from 60 balls to weather the early storm in the first session.
In the New Zealand 2nd Innings, Devon Conway looked solid before getting dismissed by a quicker delivery from Dane Piedt. Tom Latham is still at the crease for the Kiwis though, he scored 39 runs from 21 deliveries with 3 fours. Dane Piedt might be the deciding factor for the visitors, the off-spinner claiming the only wicket of the innings so far. Piedt was hard to put away, he gave away just 3 runs from 21 deliveries.
Turning Point
The ongoing second Test of the captivating series between New Zealand and South Africa witnessed another day of intriguing cricketing action as the Proteas continued to assert their dominance in the highly anticipated clash. Following the conclusion of Day 2, which saw New Zealand being dismissed for 211 runs in response to South Africa’s total of 242 in the first innings, the stage was set for a thrilling Day 3.
Starting the day with a narrow lead of 31 runs, South Africa displayed resilience and determination as they took to the field for their second innings. Skipper Neil Brand led from the front with a composed knock of 34 runs, albeit facing stiff opposition from New Zealand’s formidable bowling attack that managed to stifle the visitors’ top order.
Early setbacks saw Clyde Fortuin departing for a mere three runs, Raynard van Tonder contributing just one, and Zubayr Hamza falling victim to Neil Wagner after a valiant effort of 17 runs off 63 deliveries. However, the innings found stability in the form of a magnificent performance by David Bedingham. The talented 29-year-old showcased his skills with a splendid century, crafting an impressive 110 runs off 141 deliveries, followed by a solid contribution from Keegan Petersen, who notched up 43 runs from 79 balls. Together, they guided South Africa to a total of 235 runs in the second innings, setting the Black Caps a challenging target of 267 runs to secure victory.
In the bowling department, William O’Rourke once again excelled as he emerged as the standout performer, clinching five crucial wickets for New Zealand. Glenn Phillips also made a significant impact with two dismissals, while Matt Henry, Rachin Ravindra, and Neil Wagner chipped in with wickets of their own to keep the pressure on the Proteas.
Facing a formidable chase, New Zealand’s quest to reach the target got off to a shaky start as they lost their first wicket early in the second innings. Devon Conway could only manage 17 runs from 44 deliveries before being dismissed, leaving Tom Latham to hold the fort with 21 runs to his name as Day 3 drew to a close. With Day 4 on the horizon, New Zealand finds themselves in a challenging position, requiring 227 runs to secure victory with nine wickets still in hand, setting the stage for an enthralling conclusion to this riveting Test match.
Day Result
The host New Zealand needed 227 runs to win the second Test match and seal the series 2-0. On the other hand, the South Africans would have to take 9 more wickets to complete an inspiring comeback victory.
Brief Scorecard
| South Africa First Innings: 242 (97.2 overs) | New Zealand First Innings: 211 (77.2 overs) |
| Ruan de Swardt 64 (156) | Kane Williamson 43 (108) |
| David Bedingham 39 (102) | Will Young 36 (73) |
| Will O’Rourke 4/59 (18.2 overs) | Dane Piedt 5/89 (32.3 overs) |
| Rachin Ravindra 3/33 (21.0 overs) | Dan Paterson 3/39 (17 overs) |
Day Highlights
Day Wrap-Up
David Bedingham scored a fantastic century to give his countrymen something to defend in the 4th innings. The 30 year old batter along with Keegan Petersen kept the visitors still in the game. The hosts would have to get 227 more runs to complete a cleansweep victory against their opponents. Either the wizardry of Dane Piedt or the brilliance of Kane Williamson can decide the fate of the series. Tomorrow can be a historic day for New Zealand cricket by securing their first ever Test series victory against the Proteas.
