New Zealand vs. South A., 2nd Test: South Africa crushed New Zealand by 198 runs in the second Test in Christchurch on Tuesday. Effectively ending their hopes of defending their World Test Championship.
It was New Zealand’s 3rd defeat in six Tests in the last three months. And their second at home, where they had been virtually unbeatable in recent years. A loss in India in December was follow by a shock loss to Bangladesh at Mount Maunganui in January before being outclass by South Africa at Hagley Oval.
Last week’s emphatic victory over the Proteas had given New Zealand hope of winning their first series against South Africa in 17 attempts dating back 90 years.
However, captain Tom Latham stated on the eve of the second Test that a series victory was secondary.
New Zealand’s focus was on accumulating World Test Championship points in order to defend the title they won by defeating India in the final in England last year.
South Africa vs. New Zealand, 2nd Test: New Zealand’s Test Following South Africa’s defeat, the crown is in jeopardy.
Points at home are extremely important. Nowadays, it’s very difficult to win away from home in cricket. So points in our own country are extremely valuable,” Latham explained.
But they were never really in it after South Africa took a 71-run lead in the first innings and then cracked 354 for nine in the second innings to set New Zealand a world record 426 to win.
New Zealand did lose their 1st two wickets for six runs. Join the final day at 94 for four, and were bowl out for 227 shortly after tea.
New Zealand is now sixth in the nine-team standings with 28 Test Championship points from six matches. While South Africa is fourth with 36 from five.
“I’m so disappoint to be in this position,” Latham say, adding that New Zealand need to perform much better away from home to make the final.
We do everything 100% of the time. Obviously, you go into every Test match with the goal of winning, especially at home.
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When we go to England in a few months. We need to shift our focus and do everything we can to win that series and get as many points as we can.”
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Sri Lanka leads the championship table with two wins from two (100 percent). Followed by Australia (86.66 percent) with four wins from five, and Pakistan with three wins from four for 75.00 percent.
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