Pretoria: Quinton de Kock and Stephen Cook put on a 133-run opening stand as South Africa reached 283-3 against New Zealand at stumps on the first day of the second Test after being put in to bat on Saturday.
De Kock made 82 after shifting up the order to replace Dean Elgar, who was injured in training on Friday and ruled out on Saturday morning. Cook went for 56, Hashim Amla added 58, and JP Duminy was 67 not out as all of South Africa’s top four made half-centuries.
Neil Wagner (2-51) was the best bowler but New Zealand didn’t make the early progress it hoped for after winning the toss. Earlier, New Zealand took two wickets to launch a fightback as they put the brakes on South Africa who reached 182 for two at tea.
Stephen Cook and Quinton de Kock shared a brisk 100-run partnership before lunch in a bright start for the hosts but both were dismissed as New Zealand’s bowlers delivered a lively second session.
De Kock was first to depart, pulling Neil Wagner to the boundary and being caught by Trent Boult for 82 with the score on 133 - the biggest opening wicket innings for South Africa in the last two years.
Cook went 20 runs later, taken in the gully by New Zealand captain Kane Williamson's low catch off the bowling of Doug Bracewell for 56. Hashim Amla (24) and JP Duminy (14) were not out at tea with Amla surviving a close lbw decision on 17 after asking for a review.
At lunch, Williamson might have been regretting putting South Africa into bat with De Kock picking off the loose deliveries to speed to his 50, including 10 fours. But he would have been a lot happier with the toil of his team after the second session. De Kock had been moved up the order after Dean Elgar suffered a freak injury on the eve of the test, rolling his right ankle over the boundary rope during training and spraining it. Elgar's place was taken by Stiaan van Zyl.
Scorecard:
South Africa (1st innings): S. Cook c Williamson b Bracewell 56, Q de Kock c Boult b Wagner 82, H. Amla c Watling b Wagner 58, JP Duminy (batting) 67, F du Plessis (batting) 13. Extras (b 4, lb 3) 7.
Total: 283 for three wickets in 88 overs.
FoW: 1-133, 2-151, 3-246.
Bowling: Southee 21-3-74-0, Boult 19.4-4-53-0, Bracewell 17.2-5-65-1, Santner 8-1-33-0, Wagner 22-4-51-2.
