South African bowler Tshepho Moreki expressed his satisfaction with his team’s position after the first day of the first Test against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.
Despite New Zealand ending the day in a strong position at 258/2, with both Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra scoring unbeaten centuries, Moreki believes that South Africa can still make a comeback on day two.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Suspended Kaizer Chiefs Goalkeeper Praises Bafana Bafana Hero Ronwen Williams
The Proteas had a promising start, reducing the hosts to 39/2 in the first session with their six debutants, including captain Neil Brand. However, Williamson and Ravindra’s partnership steered New Zealand to a commanding total.
Moreki acknowledged the challenge of bowling to an experienced batting lineup but praised his team’s efforts in creating pressure moments.
Although the Proteas bowlers struggled to take wickets on a difficult pitch, Moreki emphasised the importance of patience and creating opportunities by reducing the run rate.
He highlighted the lengths they hit and the initial difficulty for batsmen to hit through the line. Despite New Zealand’s increased run rate towards the end of the day, Moreki remained optimistic and believed that South Africa is now in the game.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Williams Saves Four Penalties, Sending Bafana Bafana Straight Into Semi Finals
Looking ahead to day two, Moreki expected the conditions to be more favourable for the bowlers. With limited experience playing at Mount Maunganui, the team aimed to exploit the early stages of the match to target New Zealand’s middle order.
Moreki expressed confidence in his team’s ability to find a way to restrict the scoring and make a stronger impact.
