South Africa gained control of the second Test in Centurion after their seamers made light work of New Zealand’s middle and lower order to bowl them out for 214. On a 13-wicket third day at SuperSport Park, South Africa’s lead ballooned to 372 despite New Zealand’s quicks scything through their top order to leave them 105 for 6 at stumps.
Kane Williamson’s diligent work ethic helped weather a testing period in the morning, but regular breakthroughs meant South Africa ripped through New Zealand’s largely untested middle order, and took a first-innings lead of 267.
Having chosen not to enforce the follow-on, South Africa began their second innings in sprightly fashion after an early tea, with Quinton de Kock hitting five fours and a six off the first 11 balls he faced. But Trent Boult and Tim Southee utilized appreciable lateral movement to nip out three wickets in two overs: Stephen Cook lbw after being pinned in the crease to a Boult in swinger, Hashim Amla caught at second slip off Southee, and JP Duminy playing around his front pad. After five overs, South Africa were 32 for 3.
Summarized scores: South Africa 481 for 8 dec and 105 for 6 (de Kock 50, Southee 2-27, Boult 2-38) lead New Zealand 214 (Williamson 77, Rabada 3-62, Steyn 3-66) by 372 runs