After suffering their second-worst Test defeat in Christchurch, South Africa bounced back spectacularly at Hagley Oval, dismissing the Black Caps for 227 in their second innings soon after lunch on day five.
We can see a match from a number of points of view. First of all, facing such a record heavy blow then coming back to the top is the only method of champions. South Africa did an infallible job there.
For New Zealand, several things are missing. Starting with, they have failed to perform as a team. We didn’t see a long lasting partnership with a determinant counter attack to put the opposition under pressure. The blows out the chance of turning the tide of the match.
New Zealand started on 94 for four in the morning, chasing a potential world record victory total of 426 runs In middle overs, there was a glimmer of optimism that they may salvage the match as wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme reached lunch at 180 for five.
The home side’s resistance, however, evaporated immediately after the interval, when both players threw away their wickets by tugging paceman Marco Jansen to fielders.
With the second new ball, Jansen and speed spearhead Kagiso Rabada went down the tail until an inopportune rain break prompted an early lunch break with South Africa needing one wicket for win.
Lutho Sipamla had previously denied New Zealand number three Devon Conway his fourth Test century, ending an 85-run fifth-wicket stand with Blundell.
Blundell played with composure and patience until he hit a half-hearted draw shot that Temba Bavuma caught at short midwicket.
In Jansen’s following over, De Grandhomme, who had a century in the first innings, was out drawing straight to Wiaan Mulder at leg gully.
Jansen took his third wicket when tail-ender Kyle Jamieson was caught in the deep by Rabada.
Rabada returned to the attack, dismissing Tim Southee with a top-edge to Sipamla at midwicket, permitting Maharaj to capture the winning wicket.