NZ take 1-0 series lead despite Bedingham’s fight

Kyle Jamieson’s four-wicket haul backed up by Mitchell Santner’s three-for helped New Zealand record a mammoth 281-run win over South Africa in the first Test in Mount Maunganui – their second highest in terms of runs. The margin of defeat would have been much more if not for David Bedingham’s counterattacking 87 off 96 balls, where he took on the short ball with some aplomb, hitting 13 fours and three sixes.Bedingham’s private battle with New Zealand pacemen Tim Southee and Matt Henry – and their attempt to bounce him out – was the entertainment highlight of the day, resulting in most of his fours and all of his sixes as he pulled and hooked to the boundary. Unfortunately for him, his one-note aggressive response to every short ball meant that it was inevitable that a mishit would come sooner or later. That he wasn’t able to make a smart adjustment to the situation probably cost him a maiden test century as he went down bravely but recklessly.It would have been something of a moral success if the inexperienced, largely third-choice South African team had been able to take the match into the final day but, after periods of successful resistance, they lost wickets in clusters throughout the day.Jamieson struck twice each after the lunch and tea breaks, breaking important stands as South Africa, who were chasing 529 for a win, folded for 247 in 80 overs. There were good partnerships built, but South Africa lost wickets in clusters way too often to go down. Aside from Bedingham, Zubayr Hamza (36), Raynard van Tonder (31) and Keegan Petersen (16) all got starts but none of them could go on and get a big one, while Ruan de Swart was not out on 34.Earlier, New Zealand expectedly declared their second innings overnight on 179 for 4, setting South Africa an improbable target. Their bowlers Matt Henry and Tim Southee immediately found assistance under overcast skies to leave South Africa at 5 for 2 in the fourth over.‘DEFLATING’South Africa’s captain, Neil Brand, described his team’s defeat by 281 runs as “very deflating”.“We gave them chances and who knows what could have been. Our patience was tested on this wicket; the guys got in and then got themselves out. It’s back to the drawing board now and hopefully we can do better in the next test (starting in Hamilton on February 13).”Referring to the loss of wickets in clusters, Brand said: “It’s obviously disappointing to lose wickets after breaks in play (two at the beginning of the innings, two shortly after lunch and two shortly after tea). But we’re raring to get back for the second test.”Brand was delighted with his six-wicket haul in the New Zealand first innings. “It was a massive honour for me to get the six wickets, but my currency is runs, so disappointed not to contribute there.”Rachin Ravindra, for his 240 in the first innings, was named player of the match: “It felt good, in any capacity, to contribute to a team victory. I’ll rate this knock pretty high because of the time I spent out there with Kane (Williamson) and our big partnership.”SUMMARYNew Zealand 511 (Ravindra 240, Williamson 118, Brand 6-119) and 179 for 4 dec (Williamson 109, Conway 29, Brand 2-52) South Africa 162 (Petersen 45, Henry 3-31, Santner 3-34) and 247 (Bedingham 87, Jamieson 4-58, Santner 3-59) New Zealand won by 281 runs.– Cricinfo/SuperSport

NZ take 1-0 series lead despite Bedingham’s fight

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NZ take 1-0 series lead despite Bedingham’s fight

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