Mitchell Santner’s wicket in New Zealand’s second innings was Steyn’s 415th, with which he passed Wasim Akarm’s tally of 414 wickets.
Advertisement
He would know. He now has a series loss and a series win to his name and was as gracious in defeat in South Africa as he was in victory in Zimbabwe, although, ultimately, he wanted a few more matches.
But unlike his predecessors, he pushed on to reach three figures, aided and abetted by all-rounder Stiaan van Zyl, who contributed 35 to a partnership of 84 before falling to Neil Wagner.
Dale Steyn took 5 wickets as the Black Caps were bowled out for 195 chasing 400.
“There was enough in the wicket, I believe, to have restricted them to a below-par total but credit does go to the way they applied themselves with the bat”.
There was even less cricket in a test match between the West Indies and India in Port of Spain, also because of outfield conditions.
With star bowlers Steyn and Philander both returning from long-term injuries, it was the first time they had played in the same Test match as Rabada, South Africa’s 21-year-old cricketer of the year.
New Zealand’s pace pack applied collective and sustained pressure, but went largely luckless.
To make matters worse for the Kiwis, skipper Kane Williamson slashed uncharacteristically outside off stump and edged Philander behind to Quinton de Kock, who took a superb one-handed diving catch to his right.
New Zealand resumed their innings on Monday morning on 38/3 but they kept on struggling against the South African bowling attack. The last time a series between the two teams ended in a draw was in 2003-04.
“The grass stands up a little more towards the end of the day and because of the light you can see the little indentations on the pitch which you don’t see when the sun is shining brightly in the middle of the day”. New Zealand were 164 for 7 at that stage. This equals the longest such streak for South Africa against any opposition; they had a similar sequence against England from 1929 to 1938 without losing a Test. Soon, with du Plessis taking control and the seamers wearing, New Zealand’s disciplines waned.
South African paceman Dale Steyn says his side will not be served well by declaring overnight, despite their commanding lead.
Advertisement
After being bowled out for 214 runs in comparison to hosts’ 481 runs in first innings, New Zealand bowlers brought the visitors back in the game by a spirited bowling performance in second innings.
