NZ 132-1 at lunch on day 3, 3rd test vs. South Africa
HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Tom Latham and Jeet Raval posted half centuries and Morne Morkel claimed his 250th test wicket Monday on a morning of milestones in the third cricket test between New Zealand and South Africa.
Latham shrugged off a period of poor form to post his 13th half century in an 83-run opening stand with Raval before presenting Morkel with his 250th wicket in his 74th test.
Raval then went on to his third half century of the three-match series and his fifth in 13 test innings. He was 54 not, Kane Williamson was 27 not out and New Zealand was 132-1 at lunch on the third day, replying to South Africa's first innings of 314.
The start of play was delayed 90 minutes on Monday by a damp outfield and New Zealand resumed at 67 without loss, with Latham 42 and Raval 25.
Latham went on to his half century in just over two hours, from 96 balls and with 10 fours, ending his batting struggles in a series in which his previous scores were 10, 8 and 6.
He was still 50 when he fell to Morkel, pushing outside off stump and edging a ball which ducked away from him to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock who took a brilliant, diving catch in his left hand.
Morkel now has 250 wickets in 136 test innings at an average of 29.29. He sits in sixth place on South Africa's all-time list of test wicket-takers behind Shaun Pollock (421), Dale Steyn (417), Makhaya Ntini (390), Allan Donald (330) and Jacques Kallis (291).
Latham's 83-run partnership with Raval was the best by a New Zealand opening pair for some time and was only their country's third half-century first wicket partnership against South Africa in the last 17 years. After Latham's dismissal Raval and Williamson were able to guide New Zealand to lunch without further loss in a partnership worth 49 at the break.
Raval reached his half century in just over three hours, from 126 balls and with six fours, mostly through the off side.
The loss of play to rain on each of the first three days of the match is to the advantage of South Africa who lead the three-match series 1-0 and need only a draw to clinch a series victory.
