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

[Howsie]

MoM 2 of his last three test matches, 28 wickets in his last five tests. Dropped. This is the same group who has played Luke Ronchi for two years averaging .6 and dropping five catches again. We need answers

 

[Dick Rockett]

Says a lot about the NZC 'brains trust' that when Southee finally gets canned, it's in the one format that he's been decent in recently. His ODI form has been complete arse since the 7-for, why not drop him from that side?

 

[TheBrand]

Does anyone know what is going on with Mark Craig? I know his side strain actually turned out to be a bulging disc but he seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.

 

[Bahnz]

Ugh, Dunedin. Genuine edges falling short of first slip on day 2. Blegh.

 

[Bahnz]

Coney ripping into Watling for not setting the slips further forward.

 

[straw man]

Judging by the commentary it's been an infuriating morning. Pleased as I now get to watch some.

YESS!

 

[Bahnz]

Oh well, didn't hurt us too much. Wagner really deserved that, has bowled beautifully this morning.

 

[_Ed_]

Superb from Wagner.

If we can get QdK early, we're back in this.

 

[straw man]

Yess Jeets, sucked De Kock right in there.

 

[91Jmay]

Jeeeetttssss.

Typical Neil Wagner taking wickets when opposition has 450+ yet again

 

[_Ed_]

sucked De Kock right in there.

Heh.

But what a fantastic start to the day! Couldn't have asked for much better in the first hour and a half.

 

[straw man]

Good bowling from Jeets - they were saying yesterday he was bowling more attacking lines than Santner and more willing to flight it, and interesting to see Williamson is using him as the #1 spinner here.

Would be magnificent if we *somehow* end up in a position where they can try to bowl us to victory on a wearing pitch on days 4 and 5.

 

[_Ed_]

Hmm, three fours in that over, Wagner's 11th in a row. Went back to the well one too many times, IMO. Give him a rest now.

 

[Meridio]

One over too many for Wag there.

Wish Boult would get over this round the wicket obsession.

 

[_Ed_]

Yesssss.

A fitting end to a very useful but kind of erratic knock - at times he looked completely assured, but he also had a few streaky shots and strokes of luck.

 

[Bahnz]

Good session, just about back to evens now. If we can keep SA under 350 I'd be fairly happy with that.

 

[_Ed_]

Nice from Boult. Minimal tail-wagging from here, please.

 

[jcas0167]

Missed run-out according to cricinfo? Great morning session for NZ. The plan for picking Patel kind of vindicated.

 

[veganbob]

Yeah they would not have been 22/3 if southee opened. Would have probably leaked runs

 

[Scaly piscine]

Missed run-out according to cricinfo? Great morning session for NZ. The plan for picking Patel kind of vindicated.

Was looking at that myself. Cricbuzz says Philander was out if he'd knocked the stumps over.