In a light-hearted incident ahead of Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa, former New Zealand Test captain Kane Williamson faced a moment of disturbance while stretching. The amusing incident, captured on camera, quickly went viral on social media, bringing a touch of humour to the pre-match preparations.
Despite the playful distraction, Williamson continued with his stretching routine, and no further repercussions ensued. Switching focus to his on-field performance, Williamson once again showcased his batting prowess by scoring a century in the second innings against South Africa. The 33-year-old played a splendid innings, amassing 109 runs off 132 deliveries.
Here’s s reply from Kane Williamson for youðŸ˜ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/qEMRoelVSm
— ASHISH_🇮🇳 (@ashish_dhebe) February 6, 2024
Â
At the end of Day 3, New Zealand holds a commanding lead of 528 runs. In the first innings, star Kiwi batsmen, including Rachin Ravindra, who scored an impressive 240 runs batting at number four, propelled the hosts to a total of 511 runs.
ALSO READ: Kevin Pietersen Critiques Ravichandran Ashwin’s Pursuit Of Milestone
Facing the New Zealand bowlers in the reply, the inexperienced South African side struggled considerably. With the exception of David Bedingham and Keegan Petersen, the rest of the batting lineup found it challenging, leading to the visitors being dismissed for 162 runs. This allowed the Tim Southee-led New Zealand side to take a substantial lead of 349 runs at Bay Oval.
The New Zealand bowlers exhibited exceptional skills, maintaining precise line and length. Pace duo Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson claimed three and two wickets, respectively, while spinners Mitchell Santner and Ravindra contributed with three and two wickets each.
ALSO READ: T Dilip Lauds Exceptional Efforts, Credits Fielding Prowess For Victory
Before the Test series, South Africa’s head coach, Shukri Conrad, expressed the team’s determination not to concede to the strong New Zealand side and promised a resilient fight. However, the first Test has not unfolded favourably for the Proteas, and they face an uphill battle requiring a miraculous turnaround in the remaining days to secure a favourable outcome.
