Cricket: New Zealand Lose Four Quick Wickets

CENTURION, South Africa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -30th Augst,2016) - Dale Steyn struck twice in his first over as New Zealand made a disastrous start after being set a near-impossible target on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa on Tuesday. Two more wickets fell in the next three overs as New Zealand, set to make 400 to win, limped to 18 for four at lunch. Steyn bowled Tom Latham with the first ball of the final innings, then had Latham's fellow opener, Martin Guptill, caught at first slip, also for a first ball duck. The magnitude of New Zealand's task was shown in the second over when captain and first innings top-scorer Kane Williamson was struck a painful blow on the left hand by a ball from Vernon Philander which reared up off a good length.

He required lengthy treatment before resuming his innings. The team physiotherapist went onto the field twice more to treat the player before Williamson was caught behind off Philander for five.

In between, Ross Taylor was trapped leg before wicket by an unplayable ball from Steyn, which skidded through barely above ankle height off a pitch with increasingly unpredictable bounce. Latham tried to leave the ball from Steyn that bowled him but it lifted sharply and bounced off his raised bat onto the stumps. Guptill, a heavy scorer in limited overs international cricket, again raised doubts about his technique in Test cricket when he edged a ball that seamed away from him. In three innings in the truncated series, Latham and Guptill scored a combined 23 runs and the highest total at the fall of the second wicket was 13, putting pressure on Williamson and the remaining batsmen. South Africa added 27 runs in 13 overs, for the loss of Philander's wicket before declaring their second innings on 132 for seven.

Temba Bavuma made 40 not out. Tim Southee bowled Philander and finished with three for 46.