NZ vs SA, 2nd Test: David Bedingham's hundred sparks hopes of South Africa win despite batting collapse on Day 3

NZ vs SA, 2nd Test: David Bedingham’s hundred sparks hopes of South Africa win despite batting collapse on Day 3

Middle-order batter David Bedingham, who showed a lot of promise against India earlier in the year, hit his maiden Test hundred as he helped South Africa dream of a victory in the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. Bedingham’s gritty hundred helped South Africa set New Zealand a tricky target of 267 at Seddon Park in Hamilton.Â

New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham had a nervy hour to negate, but first-innings hero Dane Piedt gave South Africa a huge breakthrough, removing the Chennai Super Kings star with the last delivery of the day’s play. New Zealand went to Stumps to 40 for 1, still needing 227 runs to win in an enthralling Test. | NZ vs SA, 2nd Test Day 3 Highlights |Â

New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a Test series and the BlackCaps were touted as favourites after they thrashed a hugely-weakened South African side in the first Test by 281 runs. However, the Proteas have shown a lot of heart and grit in the 2nd Test to give themselves a chance of scripting a victory and draw the series.Â

David Bedingham embodied that fighting spirit of the South Africans as he hit 110 runs from 141 balls, hitting 12 boundaries and and two sixes during his 98-run partnership with Keegan Petersen.Â

The partnership between Bedingham and Petersen was the only positive in an otherwise sorry-looking South Africa batting card. The tourists, who sealed a 24-run first innings lead, failed to bat New Zealand out of the contest as the young side had too many men who failed to convert their starts.Â

WILL O’ROURKE SHINES FOR BLACKCAPS

Debutant paceman Will O’Rourke, the only New Zealander with less experience than most of the South Africans, took five for 34 as the last six Proteas wickets fell for 33 runs but the day belonged to Bedingham.

All-rounder Rachin Ravindra ensured that Clyde Fortuin’s miserable series with the bat continued, while O’Rourke got the rewards for some fine bowling with the wickets of Raynard van Tonder and skipper Neil Brand (34).

Veteran South African-born seamer Neil Wagner finally got his chance with the ball after the break and made an immediate impact with a trademark short ball which Zubayr Hamza (17) only succeeded in pulling to Will Young at deep square leg.

Phillips then took over, removing Ruan de Swardt and Piedt cheaply with his right-arm spin and taking another fine catch at gully to finally send Bedingham back and give O’Rourke his fourth victim.

O’Rourke completed the skittling of the tail when he had Dane Paterson caught behind to secure his maiden test five-wicket haul and take his match tally to 9-93. (With Reuters Inputs)

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