Vernon Philander produced the best figures of his remarkable early career for South Africa to wrap up the second Test against New Zealand by nine wickets inside three days on Saturday. The tourists needed just 20 overs to reach the 101-run target in Hamilton, after New Zealand’s second innings crumbled under Philander’s brilliant swing bowling to be all out for 168. Skipper Graeme Smith was not out 55 with Hashim Amla on 46 as South Africa made 103-1. Smith ended the one-sided match at Seddon Park with a boundary off Rob Nicol.
But the big win was set up by the 26-year-old Philander. Playing in only his sixth Test, he produced the best bowling of his brief career of 6-44 to give him match figures of 10-114 and the man-of-the-match award. He now boasts Test career statistics of five five-wicket hauls and a total of 45 wickets at an average 13.6 runs apiece, closing the gap with teammate Dale Steyn who is the world’s top ranked bowler. “If he keeps going the way he is then he’ll get there pretty soon,” Smith said.
“It’s terrific because they all work together and they know their roles but they all want to be successful in their own right, egging each other on.” New Zealand captain Ross Taylor admitted his side folded under the pressure imposed by Philander and Steyn, who finished with match figures of 5-80. “We were probably on top in a couple of crucial times but I thought Philander, the way he bowled throughout both innings, he and Steyn, put pressure on our batsmen and the pressure told at the end of the day,” he added.
