… Morkel takes six wickets
(REUTERS) – Kane Williamson scored his second Test century and guided New Zealand to an unexpected draw as the hosts made 200 for six at the end of the third and final Test against South Africa at the Basin Reserve yesterday. New Zealand had been chasing an improbable 389 for victory and Williamson showed maturity beyond his 21 years after his more experienced colleagues were destroyed by Morne Morkel’s career-best figures of 6-23 that had taken the visitors within sight of a crushing win.
The Proteas still took the series 1-0 after winning the second Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton by nine wickets.
“Obviously we would have loved to have won the Test and levelled the series but it was beyond us,” New Zealand’s vice-captain Brendon McCullum told reporters.
“But to have seen some of the fight from our young guys today and the way they stood up to one of the best attacks in the world in recent history and to have kept them at bay and got away with a fighting draw is pretty satisfying.”
South Africa’s fielders did not help themselves, dropping four catches, while Williamson was also given the benefit of the doubt when on seven when television replays were not conclusive that Alviro Petersen had snared a low catch.
Williamson’s century was the first by a New Zealander during the series. South Africa’s batsmen scored five.
Doug Bracewell was 20 not out at the end of the match, blocking four deliveries of Vernon Philander’s final over before the umpires ended the match.
The hosts had needed 389 from 81 overs after Graeme Smith declared at 189-3 an hour into the day but Morkel had destroyed New Zealand’s top order by tea.
The tall fast bowler entered the break with figures of 5-11 from 11 overs, leaving the home side flailing at 103-5 and needing to see out another 38 overs to save the match.
Williamson and Kruger van Wyk, however, combined for an 80-run partnership that got New Zealand to a position where they had less than 20 overs remaining to survive.
van Wyk became Morkel’s sixth victim when he hit the ball directly back to bowler, who stuck out his left hand and held on to the return catch. The wicket surpassed his previous best of 5-20 against India at Centurion in December 2010.
Williamson and Bracewell then saw New Zealand through to safety, with Williamson bringing up his second Test century with a dangerous single.
The day, however, belonged to Morkel, who dashed any improbable hope of a New Zealand victory when he dismissed Daniel Flynn and McCullum, both for nought, before lunch.
He then had Martin Guptill caught by Jacques Rudolph for 14 and then bowled Dean Brownlie (15) and Daniel Vettori (nought) on successive balls in the middle session.
“I’m extremely happy for him,” Smith said.
“He does a lot of hard work into the wind sometimes to allow the others to attack down wind. He has bowled superbly well.
“He’s always wanting the ball no matter which end he bowls from and it was great to see him get his reward today. He’s thoroughly deserved it throughout the tour.”

SOUTH AFRICA first innings 474-9 decl.
New Zealand first innings 275
SOUTH AFRICA second innings (o/n 75-0)
A. Petersen run-out 39
G. Smith c Bracewell b Vettori 41
AB de Villiers c Williamson b Bracewell 68
JP Duminy not out 33
Extras: (w-3, nb-2, lb-3) 8
Total: (for three wickets decl, 29.4 overs) 189
Fall of wickets: 1-77, 2-106, 3-189.
Bowling: Martin 10-0-44-0; Bracewell 6.4-0-47-1 (w-2); Gillespie 6-0-55-0 (nb-2); Vettori 7-1-40-1 (w-1).
NEW ZEALAND second innings
M. Guptill c Rudolph b Morkel 18
D. Flynn c Boucher b Morkel 0
B. McCullum lbw b Morkel 0
K. Williamson not out 102
D. Brownlie b Morkel 15
D. Vettori b Morkel 0
K. van Wyk c & b Morkel 39
D. Bracewell not out 20
Extras: (lb-6) 6
Total: (for six wickets, 80.4 overs) 200
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-32, 4-83, 5-83, 6-163.
Bowling: Morkel 16.4-7-23-6, Philander 18.4-6-29-0, de Lange 17.2-4-77-0, Steyn 15-9-14-0, Duminy 13-2-51-0.