All-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Shaun von Berg yesterday used “hard graft” to lead a South African rearguard as they reached 220-6 after New Zealand had dominated the start of the second Test.
De Swardt reached his maiden half-century and was 55 not out at stumps on day one. Thirty-seven-year-old Von Berg was 34 on his Test debut, with the pair having put on an unbroken 70 off 27 overs at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
South Africa won the toss, but were 64-3 at lunch and tottering at 150-6 early in the final session after David Bedingham was dismissed in freakish fashion.
Photo: AF
After losing in Mount Maunganui by 281 runs, an understrength South Africa must win to avoid becoming the first team from their country to lose a Test series to New Zealand.
De Swardt, who had been one of six Proteas debutants in the first Test, showed the specialist batsmen how to survive in a gritty 135-ball knock. He received support from veteran leg-spinner Von Berg, who was finally given an international opportunity after playing 135 first-class matches.
“It was quite hard graft out there,” De Swardt said. “I thought the New Zealanders bowled pretty well, but for me it was just about getting stuck into them, having that mental toughness and keeping going.”
“There’s still quite a bit in the wicket, so if we can bat well tomorrow, get past 300, 350, we’re definitely in with a chance,” he said.
The pair halted a mini collapse either side of the tea break inspired by Rachin Ravindra, who took 3-33.
Ravindra, who scored 240 in the first Test, underlined his all-round talent by removing Zubayr Hamza for a painstaking 20 off 99 balls and Keegan Petersen for two.
His left-arm spin then accounted for the unfortunate Bedingham, on 39, whose leg-side flick struck the top of his shoe and flew to Will Young at short leg.
South Africa made a dreadful start when makeshift opener Clyde Fortuin was dismissed for zero on the first ball in the second over, caught brilliantly in the gully by Glenn Phillips off Matt Henry.
Pace bowler Will O’Rourke took a wicket on debut when he had captain Neil Brand trapped leg before for 25 midway through the first session.
Raynard van Tonder was then out for 32 just before lunch, caught at gully after failing to get on top of Neil Wagner’s short delivery.
“It was probably a little slower, the wicket, than what we were expecting,” O’Rourke said. “We strangled them really well. I think we’re happy with the day.”
South Africa strengthened their spin attack by picking Von Berg and recalling off-spinner Dane Piedt for his first Test in four years. They replaced opener Edward Moore and seamer Duanne Olivier.
For New Zealand, the 22-year-old O’Rourke replaced Kyle Jamieson, who had back pain following the first Test. Veteran seamer Wagner was recalled in place of spinner Mitchell Santner, while Young replaced batsman Daryl Mitchell, who was ruled out with a foot injury.
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
When Wang Tao ran away from home aged 17 to become a professional wrestler, he knew it would be a hard slog to succeed in China’s passionate but underdeveloped scene. Years later, he has endured family disapproval, countless side gigs and thousands of hours of brutal training to become China’s “Belt and Road Champion” — but the struggle is far from over. Despite a promising potential domestic market, the Chinese pro wrestling community has been battling for recognition and financial stability for decades. “I have done all kinds of jobs [on the side]... Because in the end, it is very
No team in the CPBL can surpass the Taipei Dome attendance record set by the CTBC Brothers, except when the Brothers team up with Taiwanese rock band Mayday. A record-high 40,000 fans turned out at the indoor baseball venue on Saturday for Brothers veteran Chou Szu-chi’s first farewell game, which was followed by a mini post-game concert featuring Mayday. This broke the previous CPBL record of 34,506 set by the Brothers in early last month, when K-pop singer Hyuna performed after the game, and the dome’s overall record of 37,890 set in early March, which featured the Brothers and the
With a quivering finger, England Subbuteo veteran Rudi Peterschinigg conceded the free-kick that sent his country’s World Cup quarter-final into extra-time before smashing his plastic goalkeeper on the floor in frustration. In the genteel southern English town of Tunbridge Wells, 300 elite players have gathered to play the game they love. “I won’t say this is the best weekend I’ve ever had in my life, but it’s certainly in the top two,” said Hughie Best, 58, who flew in from Perth, Australia, to compete and commentate at the event. Tunbridge Wells is the “spiritual home” of Subbuteo, which was invented there in 1946