Seddon Park (Reuters) With an unbroken century and a patient 267 on Friday, Kane Williamson helped New Zealand win their first-ever series against South Africa by seven wickets.
Even though most of its players were playing in the SA20 competition at home, South Africa lost the series against the batting order of the host team.
In the fourth inning at Seddon Park, Williamson’s 32nd test century (133) and Will Young’s efforts (60 not out) enabled the Black Caps to pull off a historic run chase.
The South African team won the series 2-0 over the Black Caps, their first in 19 attempts in nearly a century, but their lack of experience—they had fewer caps than many Black Caps—will overshadow the triumph.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee called the test “a pretty old-fashioned sort of ding-dong.”
“Kane played an absolute blinder, as he has done for so many years, and he was well assisted by Youngy today.”
The visitors’ perseverance is commendable, especially considering that they lost the first test by 281 runs. On Thursday, they lost the final six wickets for 33 runs in the second inning, and Neil Brand, their captain, sustained an injury.
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“The first test was really difficult, and I was very proud of the way that we bounced back in this series,” the 27-year-old continued, obviously taking part in what might have been his last test series.
Now that we’ve participated in this test match, my disappointment has grown. Perhaps we didn’t practice yesterday. Very disappointed.”
After Devon Conway was out of the game in the third day’s penultimate over by spinner Dane Piedt, the hosts had a 40-1 lead heading into play on Friday.
Zubayr Hamza grabbed Tom Latham’s first delivery, Piedt, and scored nine runs before he was out for thirty. This was all that forced Williamson into the crease.
With an average of 88 in Hamilton, the excellent hitter put in a lot of work, took his time in the inning, and punished bad balls.
With a drive that found its way right to Brand, Piedt dismissed Rachin Ravindra for 20 runs, putting the Black Caps down 107-2.
Kane Williamson scored his 34th half-century two overs later, and Young almost got out to Shaun von Berg, but the review overturned the judgment.
A TINY CELEBRATION
Kane Williamson reached his century with a hint of modesty, despite the fact that New Zealand only managed 66 runs in the second session to reach 173-3 at tea, having had to wait a long time to reach 99.
After scoring hundreds in both of the first test’s two innings, the 33-year-old is currently tied for 11th place in test century scoring with Steve Waugh and Steve Smith.
Despite South Africa’s half-chances, Piedt concluded with 3-93 to add to his five-wicket first-inning total. Seamers Paterson and von Berg were ejected from the game.
Williamson’s twelfth boundary was enough to guarantee the win, but Young still scored a straight-back four over the bowler to record his sixth test half century.
“South Africa is deserving of praise. Player of the Series Kane Williamson said, “They definitely outplayed us for the first couple of days and put us under pressure, and we had to fight hard to get out of that position.”
In addition to Williamson’s feats and Ravindra’s outstanding overall performance, Will O’Rourke’s 9-93 match total will thrill New Zealand even more.
New Zealand won the World Match Championship following their victory in the first match at Mount Maunganui. The two-match series against the defending champions, Australia, begins in Wellington on February 29.
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