South Africa strike twice after fetching 91-run lead

South Africa struck twice early in New Zealand's second innings to remain on top of the second Test in Wellington as the hosts went in for the lunch break at 55 for 2 on day three, still trailing by 36 runs. Morne Morkel made early inroads by getting rid of Tom Latham and Kane Williamson to put New Zealand on the backfoot after South Africa fetched a lead of 91 runs in the first innings.

Morkel began the day in eventful fashion with the bat in hand first up as Jeetan Patel had a leg-before-wicket appeal turned down off the very first ball. Morkel then hit the next ball over mid on for a boundary which brought up the fifty-run partnership between himself and Vernon Philander. Eventually, it was also the highest last wicket stand for South Africa against New Zealand in Tests. After surviving a stumping chance in the same over, Morkel hit Neil Wagner for a boundary in the next over before getting clean bowled by Patel for 40.

With a healthy lead, South Africa took the field in a buoyant manner and immediately applied pressure on Latham, who was desperately looking for runs. After fetching a streaky boundary off an outside edge in the first over, he survived a review for lbw in the same over after replays confirmed an inside edge onto the pad. He didn't last long though as Morkel got him once again by bowling one that went away from the batsman. Latham failed to learn from his previous failure and nicked it to the slip cordon once again instead of leaving the ball.

Jeet Raval, who looked good in his brief stay in the first innings, began well yet again. He hit Philander straight down the ground to fetch his second boundary of the innings but saw his captain depart in the next over bowled by Morkel again. The seamer bowled a terrific delivery on off stump that straightened after pitching and Williamson had no choice but to play at it. The caught behind appeal was initially turned down but the visitors took a review again despite losing one in the very first over. With the hotspot confirming an edge, Williamson had to walk back. Losing two wickets early put New Zealand under tremendous pressure but Raval and debutant Neil Broom ensured there was no further damage until the end of the session.

Philander troubled Broom with some beauties but the batsman managed to hold on and finally score his first boundary in Test cricket with a punch between covers and point. He started looking confident towards the end of the session as he picked up another boundary with a firm sweep off Keshav Maharaj. Kagiso Rabada posed some questions with some serious pace but the duo managed to keep him out and with their side still trailing by 36 runs, they will have to take inspiration from their comeback with the bat on the opening day in order to challenge South Africa.

Brief scores: New Zealand 268 & 55/2 (Jeet Raval 21*, Neil Broom 20*; Morne Morkel 2-14) trail South Africa 359 (Quinton de Kock 91, Temba Bavuma 89; Colin de Grandhomme 3-52, Neil Wagner 3-102) by 36 runs.

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