NZ vs SA, 2nd Test: South Africa eye series-leveling win after Maharaj, Rabada leave hosts in trouble on Day 4
India Today
Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj left New Zealand in a desperate position on Day 4 as South Africa are just six wickets away on the final day to win the second Test and level the two-match series.
Kyle Verreyne's maiden hundred and Kagiso Rabada's fiery bowling spell put South Africa in total control of the second Test against New Zealand at the end of the fourth day in Christchurch.
Kyle Verreyne's unbeaten 136 allowed South Africa to declare its second innings at 354/9 just before tea, setting up New Zealand 425 to win in about 136 overs or four sessions. Rabada then dismissed both New Zealand openers and Maharaj got rid of Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell to leave the home side reeling at 94 for 4.
New Zealand finish day four at 94/4.The visitors need six wickets on the final day to win the second Test and level the series.#NZvSA pic.twitter.com/xW1DiZ7tIs
An unbeaten 60 by South Africa-born Devon Conway lifted New Zealand to 94/4 at stumps, leaving it still 332 runs behind and with only six wickets to survive the final day. Tom Blundell was with Conway at the close of play, scoreless after 17 balls.
Blundell is technically New Zealand’s last specialist batsman. All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme, who scored a hundred in the first innings, will come next and then the bowlers.
South Africa’s performance over the first four days of the match marked an extraordinary form reversal after their defeat by an innings and 276 runs in the first Test, in which they were bowled out for 95 and 111.
New Zealand needed only to draw the second test of the two-match to achieve its first series win over South Africa in 17 attempts over 19 years. But they saw their hopes of that historic achievement dissolve Monday in the face of Verreyne’s magnificent innings.
