South Africa vs New Zealand 2017: 1st Test, Day 4, 5 Talking Points

#2 Elgar's luck has New Zealand frustrated

The du Plessis-Elgar stand of 80 have the Proteas a reasonable lead

Dean Elgar is the sort of man who would give his life to stay at the crease. On a tough wicket, Elgar brought out all his stubbornness and forged a brilliant hundred in the first innings. In the second, his task was once again cut out as South Africa lost Cook and Amla cheaply.

They were effectively 6/2 at one stage given that New Zealand had a lead of 33 from the first innings. Elgar was excellent but suffered bouts of lapses in concentration but Kiwis failed to make it count. First, he edged Neesham behind but Watling failed to grab the chance behind the stumps and then Elgar sliced Patel to substitute fielder, de Grandhomme, who dropped the chance to allow Elgar a double and yet another half-century.

He gave another chance to Neesham at slips off Patel but that too went down as Kiwis had a miserable day in the field. Finally, on 89, Patel got rid off Elgar lofting to Williamson at long-off.