New Zealand Pick up Famous Victory in Second Test Match

New Zealand has taken a first-ever test series victory over South Africa with a seven-wicket win.

The Blackcaps struck early with Clyde Fortuin falling in the second over to Matt Henry off a sharp catch by Glenn Phillips in the gully.

South African captain Neil Brand and Raynard van Tonder were able to build a partnership together for the second wicket but debutant Will O’Rourke broke through to have Brand out for 25.

Neil Wagner grabbed the wicket of van Tonder, just as he looked like he would get a move on with his innings, Tom Latham grabbed the catch with van Tonder out for 32.

Zubayr Hamza and David Bedignham were not able to find any fortunes throughout their fifth wicket stand, whilst it was worth just over 30 runs, they struggled against the pressure that O’Rourke, Henry, and Tim Southee built.

The pressure applied by the pacers allowed Rachin Ravindra to strike twice in two overs with Hamza out for 20 and Keegan Petersen for two.

Ravindra had a third wicket with Bedingham falling for 39 and South Africa six wickets down and just 150 runs on the board.

Ruan de Swardt and Shaun von Berg managed to see the visitors through the rest of the day without the loss of a further wicket.

O’Rourke and Southee struck early on day two with South Africa collapsing from 220/6 at the end of play to 242 all out.

Von Berg went for 38 to O’Rourke along with de Swardt (64), and Dane Paterson (0). Southee got Dane Piedt for four.

Devon Conway went early for the Kiwis to Paterson for a three-ball duck, but once again Kane Williamson was able to step up alongside the rest of the top order.

Williamson and Latham put on 74 runs before Latham went to Piedt for 40 and Williamson also went to Piedt for 43.

Ravindra and Will Young led a fighting effort after the quick loss of Latham and Williamson but they both went in quick succession of each other around the 150-run mark.

The New Zealanders' middle order was exposed with a poor batting show going from 145/3 when Ravindra went for 29 to 183/9 when Henry was out for ten.

Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips both went for four falling to Paterson and Piedt respectively whilst Young went to Piedt for 36.

Neil Wagner had a quick hit out at the end as he got to 33 before being stumped by Fortuin for 33 and Peidt grabbed his second test five-wicket haul with figures of 5/89 from 32.3 overs.

South Africa had a horror start to day three with Fortuin (3) and van Tonder (1) falling to Ravindra and O’Rourke respectively.

Brand went not long after for 34 and South Africa were in real trouble at 39/3.

Bedingham was going quickly at one end while Hamza was just moving along and flicking the strike over.

Hamza went to Wagner for 17 with the usual short ball tactic working.

Petersen and Bedingham looked to be taking the game away from the Kiwis with a 98-run stand for the fifth wicket but when Henry had Petersen for 43 it soon brought about the end of the South African innings.

de Swardt made one being bowled by Phillips and Bedignham got a maiden test ton but he was out to O’Rourke for 110.

O’Rourke grabbed von Berg for two and Phillips had Piedt for two as well.

A maiden First Class five-wicket bag soon occurred for O’Rourke when he picked up the final wicket of Paterson for seven and they were all out for 235.

Conway and Latham had just over an hour to see through for the rest of the day and looked to do so but Conway went on the last ball of the day LBW to Piedt for 17.

New Zealand then lost only one wicket inside the first session of day four with Latham going for 30.

The game was slowly starting to slip away from South Africa with Ravindra and Williamson building a steady partnership.

They were however able to keep applying pressure and Ravindra eventually sent one to Brand off Piedt’s bowling for 20.

Kane Williamson then had his 32nd Test century in the final session and was able to carry New Zealand to victory alongside Will Young (60*). Williamson finished on 133*.

The victory for New Zealand also meant a first-ever Test Series over South Africa with a 2-0 winning margin. It was also the highest fourth-innings target chased at Seddon Park.