While New Zealand had put themselves in a very dominant position against South Africa on the very first day of the first test match yesterday, they piled on the misery even further today. It was piled to an extent that New Zealand’s last wicket partnership of Matt Henry and Tom Blundell added close to 100 runs.
The Kiwis already had a small lead with three wickets down at the end of day 1, but when day 2 started, South Africa had to struggle quite a bit to get rid of New Zealand’s night watchman Neil Wagner who scored 49 and saw off majority of the first session. New Zealand again got quite a few brief partnerships from there onwards and every partnership hurt South Africa significantly because of how far behind they were in the game.
However, when the visitors had New Zealand 9 down with the lead a little below 300, they would have expected themselves to clean up the last pair quite quickly, but it turned out to be a very long wait as Matt Henry, who had grabbed 7 wickets with the ball on day 1, scored a half century batting at no. 11.
Tom Blundell, who was running out of partners, also got close to his hundred during that partnership and it looked like he would eventually get to the three figure mark before he was dismissed by Marco Jansen at the score of 96, after a 94-run last wicket partnership with Matt Henry.
South African fans were extremely frustrated by New Zealand’s last wicket partnership
It was after a long time that the last wicket partnership of any team survived for so long in test match cricket and the fans on twitter reacted almost in disbelief at what happened, particularly considering the fact that South Africa has quite a stingy pace attack.
New Zealand, after getting bowled out for 482, then got South Africa three down for just 34 in the second innings and the visitors, at stumps on day 2, were staring at a very heavy innings defeat.
Here is how twitter reacted after New Zealand’s last wicket partnership of Henry and Blundell added 94 runs –
Matt Henry is having a dream game
7/23 and now 51 at no.11
Advertisement86* run partnership for the last wicket with Tom Blundell 95* #NZvSA
— Abhijeet ♞ (@TheYorkerBall) February 18, 2022
This Matt Henry Tom Blundell partnership is bringing back ugly ashes memories 😢
— Sam (@one925955) February 18, 2022
The previous highest 10th-wicket partnership for the @BLACKCAPS against South Africa was 59 between B-J Watling and Trent Boult in Port Elizabeth during the infamous 2013 tour. The Tom Blundell-Matt Henry stand now worth 93. #NZvSA
— Andrew Alderson (@aldersonnotes) February 18, 2022
New Zealand 's last wicket partnership was one run less than SA's first innings score 🥲#NZvsSA
— Troy Rodríguez (@begoodpeopleof) February 18, 2022
Lest we forget that the world is not defined by Wellington check out the last wicket partnership in Christchurch. There will be some very tired and depressed South Africans right now.
— Kevin N Prince (@mr45144) February 18, 2022
Wouldn’t it be great if Matt Henry bats through a Blundell hundred #NZvsSA
— Sritama Panda (Ross Taylor’s Version) (@cricketpun_duh) February 18, 2022
Blundell robbing Henry off a well deserved hundred here 😔😔
— Sam (@one925955) February 18, 2022
Frustrating final wicket partnership of 50 between Blundell & Henry
344 ahead#NZvSA
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) February 18, 2022
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Elgar is giving Blundell the single hoping to attack Henry yet he's scored 42 from 43, please make it make sense because he's clearly not batting like a number 11 😂😂😂
— The Struggling Broadcaster (@Sbu_O_Mac) February 18, 2022
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Will Henry get out and cost Blundell 100, will Blundell get out and cost Henry a 50, or will they both be not out and declare?
— TJ Monk (@TJMonk2) February 18, 2022
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