New Zealand dominated the first day of their Test series against a severely weakened South Africa, Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra dousing a bright early start for the tourists with a double-century stand.
The Proteas have six debutants and Cricket South Africa has chosen to prioritize the SA20 competition, which clashes with the New Zealand Test. This is also South Africa’s first series since opening pitcher Dean Elgar retired. Their eleven competed by playing a total of 37 Test matches. Williamson alone gave him 96 points.
Nonetheless, the away team made a bright start and took two wickets with the new ball. Tshepomolecki joined the club of famous bowlers and took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, driving the ball back to Devon’s Conway to keep New Zealand’s opener straight at the bottom.
Dane Patterson, who was recalled after more than four years out, was another to attack early. The 34-year-old caught Tom Latham, who was caught by Clyde Fortuin behind his stumps. The score for the Black Caps was 38:2.
However, they could not find a way to break through Ravindra and Williamson and they fought for the rest of the day. Each made his century, with Williamson achieving his 30th in Test cricket and Ravindra becoming the first Test cricketer to do so.
Williamson’s innings continued to show impressive form even by his lofty standards. He has averaged 76 in Test cricket since the coronavirus pandemic and had scored 900 in 17 Tests during that period. Only three of his batsmen – Steve Smith, Matthew Hayden and Sachin Tendulkar – required fewer innings to reach 30 Tests.
Tendulkar – 51
Kallis – 45
Ponting – 41
Sangakkara – 38
Dravid – 36
Gavaskar – 34
Jayawardene – 34
Y. Khan – 34
Lara – 34
Cook – 33
S. Smith – 32
S. Waugh – 32
Chanderpaul – 30
Hayden – 30
Root – 30
Williamson – 30Kane Williamson becomes the 16th player to score 30 points in a Test. pic.twitter.com/GlNpaIlrCY
– Wisden (@WisdenCricket) 4. 2024 年 2 月
Ravindra’s 100th came as a result of his brilliant triple century in the Cricket World Cup as New Zealand were eliminated in the semi-finals. This is the first time Ravindra, who has been an all-round bowling player, has finished in the top six in Test cricket.
The series is part of the World Test Championship and is held for the Tangiwai Shield in commemoration of the 1953 Tangiwai railway disaster in which 151 people died. Among them was the fiancée of New Zealand seamer Bob Blair, who was playing in a Test match against South Africa at the time.
