Cricket: South Africa prove batting depth

Daniel Flynn of New Zealand fields the ball during day two of the Third Test match between New Zealand and South Africa at Basin Reserve. Photo / Getty Images.

South Africa have lost Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis to injury but, judging by the efforts of Alviro Petersen and JP Duminy on the abridged second day of the third test in Wellington, there remains plenty of depth to their batting. South Africa were 246 for two at stumps.

Kallis missed the match with a stiff neck while Amla underwent emergency groin surgery after taking a missile in the box from Chris Martin yesterday. Amla was on 33 when he slumped to the ground but batted a further 12-and-a-half overs to make 63. He will take no further part in the match but expects to make a full recovery.

New Zealand can glean plenty from Petersen and Duminy's application. The duo's unbeaten partnership of 140 runs nullified the efforts of an attack that battled for no reward amidst a northerly gale.

Petersen and Duminy (in his first test in more than two years) played effortlessly off their legs for on-side singles and produced crisp cover drives.

They absorbed deliveries and exercised patience as the New Zealanders exhausted themselves. Their respective unbeaten innings - Petersen is just shy of a third test century on 96 and Duminy is 76 - means every South African specialist batsman has scored at least one half-century in the series.

Duminy took precautions to adjust to the gusts: "I spread my feet more in my stance to get a good centre base and my bat was wobbling in air when I lifted it so I had to take a firmer hold."

The force of the wind saw most fans seek shelter in the shadow of the RA Vance stand but a brave few bunkered down on the embankment. In a short-sleeved shirt, Martin Guptill was the most ambitious fielder but he also dropped the sole chance of the day at third slip from Petersen off Doug Bracewell when the opener was on 68.

The conditions certainly tested Daniel Vettori's famed patience in his 111th test, equalling Stephen Fleming's New Zealand record. "I've played about 460 days [of test cricket] all up and it'd rank somewhere near the bottom. It was incredibly tough and not easy for the bowlers. We wanted two wickets from our overs [and got none] so it was South Africa's day," Vettori said.

In a day of struggle for the hosts, a highlight was the wicketkeeping of Kruger van Wyk who has taken seven catches and conceded just five byes in 384.4 overs. His skills on both sides of the wicket have been welcome, as has his general vim in the field. If he bats well, it places further pressure on B-J Watling to regain his spot. Fine weather is forecast for the next three days.