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New Zealand 293 (de Grandhomme 120*, Mitchell 60, Rabada 5-60, Jansen 4-98) and 94 for 4 (Conway 60*) need another 332 runs to beat South Africa (Erwee 108, Wagner 4-102) and 354 for 9 dec (Verreynne 136*, Rabada 47)
Christchurch: A maiden Test century from Kyle Verreynne and Kagiso Rabada’s all-round display with bat and ball has put South Africa in the driving seat on day four of the second Test in Christchurch.
South Africa started day four with a lead of 211 runs and they more than doubled that tally in the first two sessions.
Kyle Jamieson broke the overnight partnership thanks to Tom Blundell’s excellent reflex catch down to his right, dismissing Wiaan Mulder for 35. Will Young then topped that effort with one of the best catches we might see this year in the deep to get rid of Marco Jansen (9).
Just as the New Zealand bowlers thought they were getting some control in the match, Kagiso Rabada launched an aggressive counter-attack, striking four sixes and four boundaries in a very entertaining innings of 47 (34).
Kyle Verreynne continued to keep his score ticking as he brought up his maiden Test half century, while letting Rabada disrupt the New Zealand bowling attack.
The South African wicket-keeper did not have a Test fifty to his name before this match but he ensured that he batted through the innings.
He brought up his first ever Test century, much to the delight of his teammates who were very vocal in their appreciation.
South Africa declared the innings at 354/9, Verreynne finishing with an unbeaten 136 off 187 balls.
Chasing a mammoth total of 426, the hosts got off to the worst possible start, losing both their openers as Kagiso Rabada picked up the two early wickets.
Henry Nicholls (7) was the next batsman to be dismissed with Keshav Maharaj picking up his first wicket of the innings.
Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell steadied the ship by putting up a health partnership of 56, before Maharaj bamboozled Mitchell less than half hour before the end of play.
After Mitchell's (24), Conway brought up his third Test fifty and remained not out on 60 to negotiate the final few overs.
New Zealand finished the day at 94/4 and need 332 more runs if they are to win the second Test.
