Sport

South Africa struggling in second test against Black Caps

18:52 pm on 13 February 2024

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra celebrates dismissing South Africa's Keegan Petersen. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

After a slow-scoring opening day of the second cricket test between New Zealand and South Africa in Hamilton the Proteas are 220-6 at stumps.

Ruan de Swardt brought up his maiden test half century in the final session of the day and will be at the crease on 55 alongside Shaun von Berg on 34 when play resumes on Wednesday morning.

de Swardt and von Berg have added 70 runs in an unbroken seventh wicket partnership.

The final session was the highest scoring of the day's play with 93 runs scored in 33 overs.

Earlier South Africa lost five wickets in the first two sessions.

South Africa had limped through to 127-5 at tea after scoring 64 runs in the first session when captain Neil Brand won the toss and opted to bat.

They lost Brand (25), fellow opener Clyde Fortuin (0) and Raynard von Tonder (32) in the first session and also found runs hard to come by in the second session.

The Black Caps celebrate Will O'Rourke's first test wicket. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Debutant Black Caps pace bowler Will O'Rourke took his first test wicket in dimissing Brand, while Henry dissmised Fortuin and Neil Wagner in his first test in almost a year removed von Tonder.

The two wickets to fall in the afternoon are Zubayr Hamza (20) and Keegan Petersen (2) both falling to spinner Rachin Ravindra.

Ravindra picked up his third wicket with the dismissal of David Bedingham for 39 off 102 balls in the last session caught by Will Young at short leg.

However, it took an umpire review to confirm that Bedingham had not hit the ball into the pitch - rather the top of his shoe - for Young to catch.

The Black Caps lead the series 1-nil.

A draw or a win for New Zealand will give them an historic first series win over South Africa.