‘Hard graft’ from all-rounders leads S.africa fightback

HAMILTON: All-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Shaun von Berg used ‘hard grat’ to lead a South African rearguard on Tuesday as they reached 220-6 ater New Zealand had dominated the start of the second Test.

De Swardt reached his maiden half-century and was 55 not out at stumps on day one. The 37-year-old Von Berg was 34 on his Test debut, with the pair having put on an unbroken 70 off 27 overs at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

South Africa won the toss but were 64-3 at lunch and totering at 150-6 early in the final session ater David Bedingham was dismissed in freakish fashion.

Ater losing in Mount Maunganui by 281 runs, an understrength South Africa must win to avoid becoming the first team from their country to lose a Test series to New Zealand.

De Swardt, who had been one of six Proteas debutants in the first Test, showed the specialist batsmen how to survive in a grity 135-ball knock.

He received support from veteran leg-spinner von Berg, who was finally given an international opportunity ater playing 135 first-class matches.

“It was quite hard grat out there,” de Swardt said.

“I thought the New Zealanders bowled prety well but for me it was just about geting stuck into them, having that mental toughness and keeping going.

“There’s still quite a bit in the wicket so if we can bat well tomorrow, get past 300, 350, we’re definitely in with a chance.”

The pair halted a mini-collapse either side of the tea break inspired by Rachin Ravindra, who took 3-33.

Ravindra, who scored 240 in the first Test, underlined his all-round talent by removing Zubayr Hamza for a painstaking 20 off 99 balls and Keegan Petersen for two.

His let-arm spin then accounted for the unfortunate Bedingham, on 39, whose leg-side flick struck the top of his shoe and flew to closein fielder Will Young.

South Africa made a dreadful start when makeshit opener Clyde Fortuin was dismissed for nought first ball in the second over, caught brilliantly in the gully by Glenn Phillips off Mat Henry.

Pace bowler Will O’rourke took a wicket on debut when he had captain Neil Brand trapped leg before for 25 midway through the first session.

Scoreboard:

South Africa 1st innings

N Brand lbw b O’rourke 25 C Fortuin c Phillips b Henry 0 R van Tonder c Latham v Wagner 32 Z Hamza c sub (Santner) b Ravindra 20 D Bedingham c Young b Ravindra 39 K Petersen c Southee b Ravindra 2 R de Swardt not out 55 S von Berg not out 34

Extras (b9, 1b1, w3) 13

Total (for 6 wkts, 89 overs) 220 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Fortuin), 2-40 (Brand), 3-63 (van Tonder), 4-99 (Hamza), 5-101 (Petersen), 6-150 (Bedingham)

To bat: D. Piedt, T. Moreki, D. Paterson

Bowling: Southee 21-7-54-0, Henry 17-5-44-1 (w1), O’rourke 14-3-47-1 (w1), Wagner 16-6-32-1 (w1), Ravindra 21-8-33-3