***Official*** South Africa in New Zealand 2017

[Immenso]

It's definitely been done - might have been Sri Lanka or Bangladesh - I'll try find it.

Edit: Here you are:

Looks like they're setting up for an opening ceremony,

 

[TT Boy]

Top catch.

 

[Meridio]

Ah, well at least we know Latham's back to normal.

de Kock's catch looked good but imo he nearly made a meal of if - poor footwork, should have been a lot closer to the ball.

 

[_Ed_]

Well, that was a bit of a jinx. Apologies.

 

[Gnske]

Ah, well at least we know Latham's back to normal.

de Kock's catch looked good but imo he nearly made a meal of if - poor footwork, should have been a lot closer to the ball.

It's the meme of modern wicketkeeping, leap and lunge at all costs.

 

[Burgey]

Where in the world covers the entire field? Never seen that before. (Except Docklands retractable roof, I suppose)

Edgbaston too, iirc. But then again, why wouldn't you want to cover all of Birmingham so people don't have to see it/

 

[Bahnz]

Feel a bit for Latham. Finally manages to battle through his miserable form and make a start, only to have to start all over again after an hour and a half at the crease. In a fairer world he would've had an entire day to bat himself back into form.

Still a good start. Need Kane to make a score and the rest of the team to bat around him. If the weather somehow holds we could yet have an outside chance but we need 400 at a minimum.

 

[Burgey]

I love Rabada's demeanour on the field. Always seems to be in control for such a young bloke.

 

[straw man]

A bit of luck but great patience from Raval.

Should benefit from the lunch break to reset, doesn't want to give it away again in the fifties or sixties. Needs to get to lunch first.

 

[_Ed_]

Five 50s in his first seven tests is bloody outstanding. I was so sure he'd get exposed at this level, and I'm really happy to have got that one completely wrong.

 

[_Ed_]

Great to see Kane playing so fluently as well - what a difference a good opening partnership makes.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Raval really deserves a ton for all the hard work he's done since coming into the team, I hope he gets there this time.

 

[ch00baka]

Why is Colin de Grandhomme opening the bowling in a test match???

 

[_Ed_]

Raval really deserves a ton for all the hard work he's done since coming into the team, I hope he gets there this time.

Me too - he deserves it.

But at the same time, I don't really agree with some of the criticism I've seen on Cricinfo about his conversion rate - an opener who gets 50s pretty consistently is fine by me.

 

[veganbob]

Raval has been truly outstanding. Done his iob every single innings vs the best new ball attack in pretty tough conditions.
Well done on the 50 for latham too, he needed that !

 

[The Hutt Rec]

Me too - he deserves it.

But at the same time, I don't really agree with some of the criticism I've seen on Cricinfo about his conversion rate - an opener who gets 50s pretty consistently is fine by me.

Well at the moment he's pretty much getting one per test ... and given he's taking at a guess around 100 balls for each one, that's excellent. That's around the 30 over mark, by which time he's done his primary job. So yep, I also have no problem with it!

 

[Athlai]

Hamilton's forecast has drastically improved since this morning. Looks pretty good for tomorrow too.

 

[Athlai]

Really think we need to grab the bull by the horns here and attack a little. More overs will still be lost in this match and if we're any chance to draw this series we need to find ways to make up time.

 

[straw man]

I hear Williamson just played a very ***y shot

 

[jcas0167]

I hear Williamson just played a very ***y shot

I just popped down to watch after lunch and and saw him hit Maharaj for four over mid-wicket, then a signature back-foot drive against Morkel. Those shots seemed to break the shackles after some very tight bowling and shrewd field settings had kept them in check.