South Africa vs New Zealand Archives

David Bedingham ton helps South Africa post 267 for New Zealand to chase

South Africa’s David Bedingham scored a maiden century on Thursday to leave New Zealand with the challenging task of scoring 267 to win the second and final Test in Hamilton.

New Zealand, inspired by debut seamer Will O’Rourke’s five-wicket haul, were 40-1 in their second innings at stumps on day three, still 227 short of their target.

Tom Latham was not out on 21 while Devon Conway was trapped leg before wicket by Dane Piedt for 17 in the day’s final over.

The highest successful fourth-innings chase by any team at Seddon Park was 212, achieved by Australia against New Zealand 24 years ago.

Bedingham’s career-high 110 was comfortably the standout knock in South Africa’s second innings of 235, supported by 43 from Keegan Petersen and 34 from captain Neil Brand.

It hands the understrength tourists an opportunity to square the series 1-1 and deny the Black Caps their first-ever series win over the Proteas.

With his team 31 runs ahead in the first innings, Bedingham batted aggressively in difficult batting conditions.

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The 29-year-old scored 12 fours and two sixes in a 141-ball stay that backed up his 87 from the first Test in Mount Maunganui, which South Africa lost by 281 runs.

Bedingham and Petersen combined for a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 98 before Petersen’s dismissal sparked a collapse, with the last six wickets falling for 33 runs.

O’Rourke had too much pace and bounce for the tailenders, finishing with 5-34, giving him nine wickets in an eye-catching Test debut from the 22-year-old.

Earlier, he removed Raynard van Tonder for one and then Brand in quick succession to have South Africa in trouble at 39-3.

Glenn Phillips, who claimed two wickets with his part-time off-spin, pulled off three catches in the gully, two of them spectacular.

Phillips’ easiest catch was to remove Bedingham off an O’Rourke delivery that climbed steeply.

Bedingham was able to capitalise on New Zealand’s failure to include a specialist spinner on a pitch that is favouring slow bowlers, scoring freely off Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.

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All-rounders lead South Africa fightback to 220-6 in second Test against New Zealand

HAMILTON: All-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Shaun von Berg led the South African rearguard on Tuesday as they recovered to 220-6 after New Zealand had dominated the start of the second Test here on Tuesday.

De Swardt had reached his maiden half-century to be 55 not out at stumps on day one, while von Berg was on 34 on his Test debut, with the pair having combined for 70 off 27 overs.

It represented a recovery for South Africa, who won the toss but were 64-3 at lunch and 150-6 early in the final session when key batsman David Bedingham was dismissed in freakish fashion.

After losing the opening Test in Mount Maunganui by 281 runs, an understrength South Africa must win at Seddon Park to avoid becoming the first team from their country to lose a Test series to New Zealand.

De Swardt — one of six Proteas debutants in the first Test — showed the specialist batsman how to preserve his wicket in a gritty 135-ball knock.

He received support from 37-year-old leg-spinner von Berg, finally given an international opportunity after playing 135 first-class matches.

The pair halted a mini-collapse on either side of the tea break inspired by Rachin Ravindra, who took 3-33.

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Ravindra, who scored 240 in the first Test, underlined his all-round talent by removing Zubayr Hamza for a painstaking 20 off 99 balls and Keegan Petersen for two.

His left-arm spin then accounted for the unfortunate Bedingham, on 39, whose leg-side flick struck the top of his shoe and flew to close-in fielder Will Young.

South Africa made a dreadful start against New Zealand when makeshift opener Clyde Fortuin was dismissed for the nought first ball in the second over, the wicketkeeper caught brilliantly in the gully by Glenn Phillips off Matt Henry.

Pace bowler Will O’Rourke claimed a scalp on debut when he had captain Neil Brand trapped leg before wicket for 25, while Raynard van Tonder was out for 32 in the over before lunch, caught at gully after failing to get on top of Neil Wagner’s short delivery.

South Africa boosted their spinning stocks, introducing von Berg and recalling off-spinner Dane Piedt for his first Test in four years.

They replaced opener Edward Moore and seamer Duanne Olivier.

For New Zealand, 22-year-old O’Rourke replaced Kyle Jamieson, who had back pain following the first Test.

Veteran seamer Wagner was recalled in place of spinner Mitchell Santner, while Young replaced batsman Daryl Mitchell, who was ruled out with a foot injury.

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Steve Waugh criticizes ICC over South Africa naming seven uncapped players in Test squad

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) and leading cricket boards for not ‘caring’ about Test cricket after South Africa named their squad for the tour of New Zealand.

Steve Waugh’s criticism came in the wake of South Africa announcing a depleted squad, featuring seven uncapped players for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, commencing from February 4, 2024.

South Africa announced uncapped batter Neil Brand as the captain for the New Zealand tour which will be played at the same time as SA20 league, featuring the frontline Proteas players.

Steve Waugh voiced his concern for the future of Test cricket while putting the blame on ICC and major boards for not taking proactive steps for it.

“Obviously they don’t care, but If the ICC or someone doesn’t step in shortly then Test cricket doesn’t become Test cricket because you’re not testing yourself against the best players,” Waugh said.

“I understand why players don’t come. They’re not getting paid properly. I don’t understand why ICC or the top countries who are making a lot of money don’t just have a regulation set fee for Test matches which is a premium, so people are incentivised to play Test Cricket,” he further added.

Steve Waugh furiously stated that not sending a full-fledged team is disrespectful to Test cricket as well as the opposing team.

“If I was New Zealand I wouldn’t even play the series. I don’t know why they’re even playing. Why would you when it shows a lack of respect for New Zealand cricket?”

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Steve Waugh also expressed concerns that if the same tradition persisted, then Test cricket would not remain as competitive in future as it should be.

“The West Indies aren’t sending their full-strength side [to Australia this summer]. They haven’t picked a full-strength Test team for a couple of years now,” stated the former Australian skipper.

“Someone like Nicholas Pooran is really a Test batsman who doesn’t play Test cricket. Jason Holder, probably their best player, is not playing now. Even Pakistan didn’t send a full side [to Australia].”

“The public are the ones who are going to suffer because it’s not the full side playing, so it’s not Test cricket,” Waugh concluded.

South Africa will play the first Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui from February 4 to February 8, while the second Test will be played from February 13 to February 17 in Hamilton.

South Africa squad for New Zealand series

Neil Brand (c), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin (wk), Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg, Khaya Zondo

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Bowlers storm NZ to give South Africa statement win in Women’s T20 WC

PAARL: South Africa women’s team rekindled their home T20 World Cup campaign with a dominant 65-run victory over New Zealand in a Group A fixture on Monday, thanks to an exceptional bowling effort.

Spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba led the charge with three wickets as South Africa bundled out New Zealand for a paltry 67 in the second innings.

Electing to bat first, the home side scored 132/6 in the 20 overs after Chloe Tryon salvaged with a 34-ball 40 in the middle before Nadine de Klerk made an unbeaten 28 from 26 balls.

South African bowlers, however, dominated the game afterwards and wreaked havoc on New Zealand’s batting line, offering them no width to sneak back into the game.

Mlaba unsettled the White Ferns right from the start, taking a wicket in each of her first two overs as New Zealand slumped to 7/2 inside three overs with both openers Bernadine Bezuidenhout and Suzie Bates back in the hut on a duck.

Marizanne Kapp then dismissed Georgia Plimmer (7 from 12) in the 4th over before Ayabonga Khaka took the crucial wicket of Amelia Kerr (10 off 12) in the next.

New Zealand never looked in control of the chase as eight of their batters did not even cross the single digit.

Skipper Sophie Divine’s unsettling stay offered no significant help too as she gathered a mere 16 from 26 balls while the rest of the batters failed miserably.

Earlier South Africa were defeated by Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament.

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