New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke has taken a five-wicket haul and created a little history during a second Test against South Africa in Hamilton which remains delicately poised.
O’Rourke took nine wickets in total to record the best bowling figures of a Black Caps bowler on Test debut – his 9-93 beating Mark Craig’s 8-188 against the West Indies in Kingston in 2014.
The 22-year-old helped swing the momentum of the match back in New Zealand’s favour after South Africa threatened to take control on the third day at Seddon Park, David Bedingham’s maiden Test century helping the tourists to a lead of 267.
In reply, New Zealand were 40-1 at stumps, with the struggling Devon Conway dismissed LBW after he missed a straight one from spinner Dane Piedt off the penultimate ball of the day – a devastating way for the opener, who hit three fours on his way to 17, to finish.
To make matters worse, Conway reviewed the decision, the replay suggesting the ball from Piedt, bowling around the wicket, would have hit middle stump.
Conway and Tom Latham had looked good in negotiating 14 overs until his demise. In fact, it was New Zealand’s best opening partnership of the series.
With the prolific Kane Williamson next in, the odds of a first series victory over South Africa may still slightly be in New Zealand’s favour. With two full days remaining, a draw is unlikely.
“I think we’re pretty confident,” O’Rourke told TVNZ at stumps. “Obviously they batted pretty well through the middle there and we had to stick with it.”
Of his record-breaking achievement, he said: “It’s a real special day, it maybe hasn’t sunk in at the moment.
“I was running in well and the ball felt like it was coming out well. There was bounce and carry. I was feeling good out there.”
New Zealand require another 227 runs on a pitch still providing the occasional issue for the batters but it could have been far worse for the home side but for another batting collapse.
South Africa, with Bedingham (110) appearing untroubled, were in the ascendant but lost their last six wickets for 33 runs, a collapse eerily similar to New Zealand’s in the first innings when they lost their last six for 36.
O’Rourke and Bedingham were the standouts today, but Glenn Phillips should be acknowledged for his supporting role for New Zealand – his brilliant catch at point off Matt Henry’s bowling dismissing the stubborn Keegan Petersen for 43.
It broke Petersen’s 98-run partnership with Bedingham for the fifth wicket and Phillips chipped in further by bowling allrounder Ruan de Swardt for 2 and having Dane Piedt caught by Tim Southee for 7.
The end came quickly, O’Rourke having Dane Paterson caught behind for 7 off three balls, South Africa dismissed for 235 following their first innings score of 242.
The Black Caps, disappointing in their first innings when dismissed for 211, will have to create history if they are to chase down this total. The highest successful chase in Tests at Seddon Park currently stands at 212.
The highest ever successful fourth innings total in New Zealand is 324-5 v Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994.
Adding to the stakes tomorrow is the fact New Zealand have never beaten South Africa in a Test series. A Proteas win - and there will likely be a definitive result tomorrow - will draw the series.
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