New Zealand slump to 118-6 after pace barrage

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn said his team would continue batting on Tuesday. The longer we hang out there, the longer the sun bakes on the wicket and the wider the cracks get, its going to be more hard to bat, that’s the plan.

“I have been feeling like I have been hitting the ball quite nicely in the build-up to this Test match”, he said of his personal form.

Du Plessis batted after that, long enough for Dale Steyn (13 not out) to hit Santner beyond the grandstand roof, and declared to leave New Zealand to bat out the last 22 overs of the day.

Talking about his innings to AFP, du Plessis said, “There is a lot happening in the wicket and we just needed one guy to anchor the innings and keep them out there as long as possible”.

The Proteas seam bowlers dominated the third day, against a New Zealand batting side who looked hopelessly outgunned on a pitch on which there is still plenty of assistance for the bowlers, with cracks appearing on the surface.

“We are not in an ideal position but there’s three tough days to go and we’ve been in similar positions before”.

The first Test was drawn.

The second and final test will decide the short series after a weather-affected drawn first match.

South Africa get their first breakthrough of the morning as Kagiso Rabada, operating with genuine pace, managed to trap Henry Nicholls in front of the stumps.

Only Kane Williamson was able to provide resistance – he was last man out for 77. He batted for 286 minutes and faced 133 balls in an innings that included eight fours and a six.

South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis, right, plays a shot as New Zealand’s wicketkeeper BJ Watling watches on the second day of their second cricket test match at Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Africa, Sunday, Aug. 28.

Wagner was struck on the helmet by Rabada but responded by slogging four fours and a six in an innings of 31 before he was caught behind off Steyn.

New Zealand’s first innings collapse of 214 all out was led by an all-round contribution from the pace attack, which has gelled into a formidable unit, largely due to their contrasting skills sets.

“You can see why Tim Southee and Trent Boult are up there in the bowling rankings”. No other New Zealand bowler had more than one wicket.

Faf du Plessis scored his first century in 17 innings since December 2014 and South Africa’s seamers picked from where they left off in Durban to give the hosts control of the series decider.

De Kock survived a review for a caught behind and soon completed his fifty off 42 balls.