It was another shocking day at the office for South Africa’s national cricket team on day two of the first Test match against New Zealand in Christchurch. In reply to the Proteas’ paltry 95 in their first innings, the Black Caps amassed 482 runs. And by stumps they had reduced the visitors to 34 for the loss of three wickets, 353 runs to the good.
Henry Nicholls put the hosts in the driving seat with his eighth Test century earlier in the day, but it was the final partnership between Tom Blundell and Matt Henry towards the end of the innings, that added insult to injury for the Proteas.
The pair shared in a 94-run stand with Blundell scoring 96 runs and Henry a half-century to help lift their total to a massive 482 runs – 387 runs better than South Africa’s embarrassing first innings total of 95 all out.
South Africa’s support staff, especially coach Mark Boucher is perplexed by the Proteas’ dismal performance.It just got worse for the South Africans with the bat in hand as they slumped to four for the loss of three wickets by the fifth over in their second innings, eventually ending the day on 34 for three – trailing by 353 runs.
“We haven’t started well here at all and it’s not the first time it’s happened. It’s something that’s been happening for quite some time. We are trying to find out the reasons for that. We do a lot of talking and planning throughout the series and the plans are right, but we haven’t been able to implement on those plans. The energies have been low. We can’t put our finger on it. We have to go back to the drawing board to find a way to become better at the start of the series,” says Mark Boucher.
Some of the current squad members will be asked to testify at Boucher’s disciplinary hearing over allegations of racism in May. But he refused to comment as to whether the process is affecting the players.
“I can’t answer that for the players, what’s happening in my personal stuff stays personal. There’s a process that’s going on and we will leave it at that,” Boucher added.
Day three of the first Test at the Hagley Oval resumes at midnight, South African time.
