Quinton de Kock’s game-changing partnership with Temba Bavuma left South Africa feeling comfortable with an 81-run lead after day two of the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Friday, PTI reported.
South Africa finished the day on 349/9 in reply to New Zealand’s 268. De Kock and wicketkeeper-batsman joined Bavuma to turn the game around with a 160-run stand for the seventh wicket.
The duo’s effort dug South Africa out of a precarious position, having lost six wickets with only 94 on the board.
“The mindset I had going in was to somehow shift the pressure back on to them,” de Kock said. “I didn’t want to get bogged down and the only way I knew forward was to play my natural game, but obviously a little more aggressive than usual.”
De Kock made 91 and Bavuma 89. Following their departure Philander and Morkel continued the stubborn resistance with an unbeaten 47 for the last wicket.
Philander was not out on 36 when stumps were drawn, three runs short of being the sixth South African to complete the 100 wickets and 100 runs double, while Morkel was on 31.
Brief scores
New Zealand 268 trail South Africa 349/9 (Quinton de Kock 91, Temba Bavuma 89; Colin de Grandhomme 3/52, Neil Wagner 3/96) by 81 runs.