After suffering a humiliating defeat against New Zealand in the first Test, the South Africa cricket team aimed for a convincing comeback in the second Test and South Africa opening batter Sarel Erwee did exactly that as his maiden Test century helped the Proteas in gaining an upper hand against New Zealand on the first day of the second Test, played at the Hagley Oval.
Previously, South Africa skipper Dean Elgar became the first skipper to win the toss and bat first at this venue and the decision seemed to pay off as the visitors started their batting on a positive note.
Solid opening partnership
Erwee and skipper Elgar scored the best opening partnership for South Africa since December 2020. The Proteas lost their first wicket after scoring 111 runs.
The hosts got their first breakthrough when their pacer Tim Southee bowled out Elgar (41 runs off 101 balls) in the 37th over of the innings.
Later, Eiden Markram contributed with crucial 42 runs but his innings did not last long as left-ram Kiwi pacer Neil Wagner sent him back to the dressing room in the 70th over of the innings.
Two balls later, Erwee (108 runs off 221 balls) was dismissed as he became the last man to be sent back to the dressing room on Day One of the second Test as Kiwi pacer Matt Henry. The South African batter wanted to play a drive shot but his mistimed shot produced an edge which was comfortably caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Erwee’s innings was comprised of 14 boundaries.
At the end of day’s play, South African batters- Temba Bavuma (22 runs not out off 58 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (13 runs off 61 deliveries) remained not out.
The first Test
Previously, in the first innings of the first Test, South Africa were bundled out for just 95 runs. Matt Henry picked up seven wickets in the first innings to put immense pressure on the visitors.
In reply, New Zealand registered a mammoth total of 482 runs. But South African batting did not change much as in the second innings they could manage to score a paltry total of 111 runs.
Eventually, New Zealand secured a victory by an innings and 276 runs.
