2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

[Ljp86]

2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

The second test is underway in Centurion between South Africa and New Zealand. Injuries have ravaged the NZ line-up with Mark Gillespie making his debut and Lou Vincent coming into the team to replace Shane Bond and Jacob Oram.

South Africa XI: *GC Smith, HH Gibbs, HM Amla, JH Kallis, AG Prince, AB de Villiers, +MV Boucher, PL Harris, A Nel, DW Steyn, M Ntini

New Zealand XI: CD Cumming, MHW Papps, L Vincent, SP Fleming, SB Styris, RL Taylor, +BB McCullum, *DL Vettori, MR Gillespie, IE O'Brien, CS Martin


Solid start for the Kiwis, they've lost a wicket but they're looking okay. 1/45 after 15 overs. Papps is out dismissed batsman, falling to Ntini.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

New Zealand were bowled out for 188. Cumming made 48 and Fleming made 43. They were the only batters to really have an impact. Dale Steyn cleaned up again taking 4/52 with Ntini and Nel taking two wickets each.

South Africa are cruising in reply. 2/251 with Kallis and Amla dominating again, almost a carbon copy of the first test. Chris Martin has the only two wickets that NZ have taken.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

Craig Cumming retired hurt in NZ's innings which I only just found out a while ago. Cumming has had plates inserted into his jaw after copping a very nasty knock from Dale Steyn. He is expected to fly home to New Zealand within 10 days continuing New Zealand's injury problems.

South Africa made it to 3/272 at stumps. Kallis was out for 131 but Amla is still batting and is not out on 89.

Heading for another one-sided game, NZ will also be a batter short for their second innings.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

Some good bowling by Mark Gillespie saw SOuth Africa's lead limited to 195 runs. Gillespie picked up five wickets for the innings, a great effort being on debut. Hashim Amla ended up making a century and was out for 103 as the Proteas were all out for 383.

New Zealand are 2/51 in reply. Lou Vincent and Papps opened the innings with both falling LBW very early to Dale Steyn who has continued his good form from the first innings with the ball. Steyn also scored 25 runs with the bat.

The Kiwis are still behind by 144 runs. Fleming, Styris and the rest of the line-up will have to bat for a very long time in order to save this game.

 

[Ljp86]

Re: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

Fleming made it to 54 and Styris 29. That was it as far as the NZ batting line-up was concerned except for Brendon McCullum who also made it over 20.

Dale Steyn once again destroyed the batting order, taking an impressive 6/49.

NZ were all out for 136 giving South Africa victory by an innings and 59 runs.

No surprises as to who was Man of the Match, that went to Dale Steyn who also picked up Man of the Series for a series in which he took 20 wickets.

The series heads to the one-day format now with the teams scheduled to play a Twenty20 match and three one-day games.

 

[Chandu]

Re: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

Can't believe Jacques Kallis cannot pickup Man of the Series honours, even after the incredible performance he's had of late. Not saying Steyn deserve his, it's quite a remarkable situation for South Africa really, for Kallis to be having incredible success with bat and Steyn with ball. If I was personally making the decision, I would've split the award evenly between the 2.

 

[Chandu]

Re: 2nd Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Centurion

Not saying Steyn deserve his...

Hmm, obviously meant to say "Not saying Steyn didn't deserve his...". But crap, can't edit the old post anymore.