• William O'Rourke and David Bedingham emerged as the star performers for their respective teams on Day 3 of the Hamilton Test.

  • New Zealand ended the day at a score of 40/1 and now need 227 runs to claim the series.

Twitter reactions: William O’Rourke’s fifer outshines David Bedingham’s ton as New Zealand dominates Day 3 of 2nd Test against South Africa
William ORourke's fifer outshines David Bedingham's ton (Image Source: Twitter)

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The Seddon Park in Hamilton witnessed intense cricketing action on Day 3 of the second Test between New Zealand and South Africa. Despite a magnificent century from Proteas’ David Bedingham, the day belonged to the Blackcaps, with William O’Rourke‘s exceptional fifer leading the charge. As the dust settles, New Zealand finds itself in a dominant position, needing only 227 runs to secure victory with nine wickets in hand.

South Africa’s struggle and David Bedingham’s brilliance

Entering Day 3 after bundling out New Zealand for a modest 211, South Africa faced early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, Bedingham emerged as the saving grace for the visitors, playing a sensational innings and reaching a well-deserved century. His 110 runs kept South Africa in the contest, providing a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, Bedingham’s departure marked a turning point, and the only other resistance came from Keegan Petersen, who contributed 43 runs. South Africa concluded their second innings with a total of 235, setting New Zealand a target of 266 for victory.

William O’Rourke’s dominance with the ball

In a bowling masterclass, O’Rourke showcased his prowess, bagging an impressive five-wicket haul. His ability to disrupt the South African batting lineup prevented them from settling in, turning the tide in favour of the home side. Glenn Phillips also played a crucial role, chipping in with two vital wickets. The disciplined bowling performance set the stage for New Zealand’s pursuit of the target.

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Tom Latham and Devon Conway provide New Zealand a promising start

Chasing 266 for victory, New Zealand made a promising start with openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway forming a cautious partnership of 40 runs. However, the visitors managed to break through, dismissing Conway, and the day concluded with New Zealand at 40/1. The stage is set for an intriguing Day 4, where South Africa will look to stage a comeback by securing early dismissals.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.