Tea New Zealand 489 (Williamson 176, Raval 88, de Grandhomme , Morkel 4-100, Rabada 4-122) lead South Africa 314 by 175 runs
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Colin de Grandhomme struck his maiden Test fifty as New Zealand put on a total of 489 in 162.1 overs © Getty Images
Colin de Grandhomme injected much needed aggression into the fourth day in Hamilton, making his maiden half-century in Tests and hiking New Zealand’s lead to 175. Coming in after only 76 runs were scored off 206 balls in the morning session, the allrounder muscled 57 off 69 balls, the highlight of his innings, a couple of massive sixes when South Africa turned to the part-time spin of JP Duminy.
New Zealand’s total of 489 was their fifth-highest against South Africa. The 162.1 overs South Africa bowled was the longest time they had spent on the field since June 2010. Morne Morkel got through his biggest workload in a Test innings and Keshav Maharaj bowled as many balls as there are in an ODI innings. Fatigue could be an important factor and the visitors were looking at a three hour final session, weather permitting.
New Zealand’s caution early on might have stemmed from the fact that they had effectively been 7 for 4 when play began promptly and under blue skies. The plan clearly was to keep wickets in hand so they could kick on after lunch. Only, half an hour to the break, their key man, Kane Williamson, was bounced out by Morkel after making 176. They lost Mitchell Santner as well, off the last ball of the session, for 41 off 151 balls.
South Africa would have been pleased with their morning’s work. Although their bowlers had been on the field for a long time, they were still able to keep tight lines and lengths. Santner’s presence at the crease – and his propensity to be unsettled by short balls – also helped as he took his time to work through his troubles.
There were only seven boundaries in the session – only three in the first hour of play when New Zealand nudged their overnight score by 32 runs in 17 overs. With Williamson around, however, South Africa still felt nervous. They then grew frustrated, enough to review an lbw appeal from Kagiso Rabada against Santner when the ball had impacted pad well outside leg stump.
As New Zealand waited to make their play, Faf du Plessis had the time to regather himself and his team. He received a boost in the 27th over of the day when his best bowler Morkel was able to draw a false shot from Williamson. The bouncer, on and around off stump, was met with a hook shot and it wasn’t timed quite so properly. Vernon Philander, at long leg, raced in from the boundary, put in a dive, and came up with a very important catch.
The New Zealand captain had spent more than seven hours at the crease to push his team into the lead and then enjoyed watching his team-mates push things on. Santner was not party to the acceleration though – and he looked terribly disappointed about it – after he was squared up by Rabada and the outside edge flew to gully.
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo