Late wickets give New Zealand hope against South Africa

New Zealand had earlier taken the last six South African wickets for 79 runs in a little over two hours, with four falling in the first session, including Elgar for 140 and Temba Bavuma for 64 after they had compiled a 104-run partnership. Spectators, numbering 3296, were asked to leave their seats and dispatched to the rims of the ground while players and match officials were sent onto the field while the cause of the alarm was investigated.

Play is back underway after fire services checked and cleared the grandstand.

Williamson took a softer approach to the match situation on the final day, calling it balanced and leaning towards New Zealand’s ability to post a decent total, as they did when they took the first-innings lead.

The 29-year-old had been seeking to become the sixth South Africa batsman to score a century in both innings of a test but fell short when he was caught by Kane Williamson for 89 from offspinner Jeetan Patel. In what had slowly turned out as a riveting encounter, this Test had chances of all the possible results, only to be washed out completely.

Spectators evacuate the University Oval.

This was his second half century in eight Test innings.

South Africa ended the first session at 100 for two, having a lead of 67 runs.

But when they did take the new ball, Kagiso Rabada used the extra pace and bounce to remove Williamson with a ball that seamed slightly to find the edge of the bat and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock completed the dismissal. This made him the first Proteas opener to score more than 200 runs in a Test since Graeme Smith struck a double-hundred against Pakistan in Dubai in November 2013. “I’m not sure if Ross Taylor is going to come back”, Langeveldt said while conceding Williamson was winning the battle with South Africa’s bowling spearhead Vernon Philander.

New Zealand will be ruing a range of missed opportunities as the first Test heads to a frustrating conclusion in Dunedin. South Africa should be able to build that up today with Elgar continuing and the middle order pitching in.

Taylor, who suffered a calf tear early in his innings, has been replaced by debutant Neil Broom for the second Test which starts in Wellington on Thursday.