Day 1
South Africa 236/8 (77.4 ov)
New Zealand
The first day of Test cricket in August at Kingsmead felt like a play. There was the roguish charmer, Trent Boult, making the new ball weave shapes the batsman couldn't fathom. There was the graceful warrior, Hashim Amla, finding the boundary with the softest of touches. There was the man who defies pain, Neil Wagner, summoning bouncers late in the day. There was guts from Temba Bavuma. And finally there was Mitchell Santner, the sneaky saboteur who ensured the curtains came down with New Zealand smiling.
South Africa, having opted to bat, lurched from 102 for 2 to 160 for 5 and were finally holding on at 236 for 8 at stumps, with Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn at the crease.
There was a distinct narrative in each session of play. The first was for the purists, and for those moved by drama, for Boult was slaying an old demon. Ever since a back injury in June 2015, he had looked a paler force. His average bobbed over 36, he leaked three runs an over, and some were worried he had lost his inswing. Considering a stress fracture to his back had threatened his career before it even began - he was set to make his Test debut as a 19-year-old in Australia in 2009, instead he spent two years out of the game - Boult running in and hunting for the top of off stump at 140 kph was a pleasing sight. His first spell of eight overs included three maidens, plenty of jaffas, and the wicket of opener Stephen Cook.
In walked Amla. The ball cringed at the sight of him and hid beyond the boundary every chance it could. He looked in such ominous touch that his batting average of 18.62 at Kingsmead, his home ground, seemed like a computer error. He had contributed 40 of the 53 runs South Africa accumulated in the ten overs leading to lunch, favouring the cover drive. Six of his ten fours came in that region as New Zealand attempted to stay off his pads and ended up overcompensating.
So Kane Williamson called on Boult again, who promptly confounded the opposition's best batsman. An inswinger demanded Amla come forward - he couldn't - nibbled on the inside edge and settled in wicketkeeper BJ Watling's gloves. Boult wasn't able to turn the tide like that on the tours to Australia in late 2015, nor was he his usual self in the home Tests that followed. But at Kingsmead, he pitched the ball on off stump with remarkable precision and the batsman did not know whether it would carry on with the angle or veer back at him. He was a sitting duck.
So it was important that South Africa took the time to find stable ground. That responsibility fell on Temba Bavuma and the stand-in captain Faf du Plessis. The runs came at a trickle but their 54-run partnership was the second-biggest of the day. South Africa had expressed a desire not to accept mediocrity on the eve of the match and though each of their specialist batsmen spent at least 30 minutes at the crease it wouldn't please them that only one managed a fifty. Bavuma came within four runs of the mark, driving serenly and pulling authoritatively. But he was trapped lbw by Santner soon after Quinton de Kock ran down the track and spooned a catch to cover.
New Zealand had been patient, they had strangled run-flow when wickets weren't forthcoming and gave themselves the chance to pounce at the slightest opening. Literally, as it turned out.
In the fourth over after tea, Williamson flew to his right at gully and came up with a one-handed screamer to dismiss du Plessis. The bowler was Wagner, who had already caused frustration for South Africa and in particular JP Duminy by bouncing him out minutes after lunch. No one springs the leg-side trap quite like Wagner, going wide of the crease, summoning effort from some secret dimension very few fast bowlers have access to. He surprised Philander with another short one on what became the fourth over before bad light ended the day.
Things were tough at the start too. Like freshmen at a college party, Cook and Dean Elgar had spent the first several minutes assessing conditions. They tried to keep to their little corner and hoped they eventually would feel comfortable enough to shake a leg or two. Boult hit the perfect spot in the 14th over. Cook was caught in the crease, defending inside the line and with soft hands. Had that ball carried on with the angle, he would have been safe, but Boult brought it back in and claimed the edge. Quite unplayable.
Elgar was worked over in a similar manner by Doug Bracewell, who switched around the wicket to draw the batsman into pushing outside his off stump and edging to second slip. Williamson at gully put his head down and clapped his hands hard. He had said his bowlers had to be "creative" to get their wickets in Zimbabwe a few weeks ago. Nothing of that sort was required at Kingsmead, where the red ball swung just enough to play on the nerves of a top order that hadn't played Test cricket in seven months.
Day 2
South Africa 263
New Zealand 15/2 (12.0 ov)
New Zealand trail by 248 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
It seemed the only thing Dale Steyn's angry eyes did not have power over was the weather. While the grey clouds gave him swing, and he controlled it so well that South Africa's total of 263 assumed excellent proportions, they also brought rain which allowed only 16 overs to be bowled on the second day at Kingsmead.
New Zealand were 15 for 2 at lunch and they stayed 15 for 2 when play was called off at tea time.
The day had begun a little late with South Africa's tail batting. Trent Boult designed a beauty - away swing that almost bowled Kagiso Rabada around his legs. Tim Southee, playing his first Test in South Africa, kissed the top of leg stump. The man he dismissed, that old pro Steyn, took four balls when New Zealand batted to make clear his having played no Tests in eight months would only serve to embellish his legend. It was a fast-bowling fashion show in Durban.
Martin Guptill was distracted by a bevy of outswingers before one moved in and struck the front pad. Steyn whirled around, his veins popping and spit flying in appeal. Umpire Richard Illingworth calmly shook his head in response.
"Crack it open, boy," leered the slip cordon. Tom Latham found himself ganged up on. Then he was sucked in by one that pretended to be a half-volley.
Steyn had watched Latham playing with extreme care, making sure his bat didn't stray too far from his body and committing himself to a shot as late as possible. But a batsman's instinct is to score runs and that instinct flared up when the second ball of the seventh over was pitched wide. Latham fished outside off. Steyn bagged him, tagged him and would have instagrammed him if he was allowed to.
Guptill's front pad and Steyn's inswing went out on a second date right in front of middle stump. The romance was so compelling that even umpire Illingworth had to give his blessing.
Steyn's first spell read 6-4-3-2. After a point he felt he was getting too much movement and began bowling cross-seamers to have a better chance at snatching the outside edge. He was on 408 wickets and needed 14 more for the South African record.
Into this walked Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, their averages of 10.75 and 11 in South Africa hanging over them along with the dark clouds. They had only played three matches in this country, but they were New Zealand's two best batsmen. Regrouping on day three with them at the crease may just be the best of a bad situation for the visitors.
New Zealand will need some luck though because overcast conditions are forecast on the third day as well and South Africa have an attack capable of exploiting them. Vernon Philander, coming back to Test cricket for the first time since injuring his ankle in November 2015, bustled in to string together balls on a good length and jerk them this way and that. There was one delivery that came down perfectly straight, pitched a few inches in front of Taylor's front foot and seamed away so sharply it seemed like a freakishly quick legbreak.
The stage was … wet after the break. Gloomy conditions - despite the floodlights - meant New Zealand were confined to their dressing room, which they wouldn't have minded. It was safe indoors, and the All Blacks were thumping the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship.
It wasn't rain that kept the players out for the rest of the day. For the most part the light just wasn't good enough, leaving the 2543 people at Kingsmead, approximately one-tenth its capacity, equally frustrated. Helpfully, play was called off with an hour remaining for them to scramble and catch the start of the Springboks' Championship campaign.
The outfield in Durban had been relaid last year and a few chunks did come out when fielders slid to retrieve the ball. With more rain expected at night, there was concern over whether it would be ready in time for play to restart tomorrow at 10 am.
Day 3
South Africa 263
New Zealand 15/2 (12.0 ov)
New Zealand trail by 248 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
Looks deceived at Kingsmead when despite blue skies and sunshine, no play was possible on day three. A wet outfield, which has not recovered from the recent relaying process, took 65mm of rain overnight and did not dry out over the course of the morning and early afternoon. It has received a full day of sunshine and, barring any further mishaps, should be ready for play on Monday morning.
Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and the rest of South Africa's attack will find conditions completely different to what they were when they took the field on Saturday afternoon. The overcast skies and persistent drizzle have moved away and after a full day of sun, the pitch would have flattened out.
After rain interrupted play on Saturday afternoon, a steady drizzle turned into a downpour and although the showers had abated by 6am, the outfield was covered with water. Conditions improved significantly between then and 9:30, when it was announced that the morning session would be lost and an inspection would take place at noon.
The umpires asked for no artificial measures to be used in drying the outfield in that time, preferring to use the natural processes of sunlight and wind. The super-sopper was not brought out because the muddy patches were too soft and using it would only have worsened the damp outfield.
By 12pm, there was further improvement but areas outside the square - which were in pristine condition - and along the perimeter of the outfield, where scant grass had left the sandy patches exposed, were still too wet. Underfoot conditions were deemed "treacherous," and a second inspection was planned for 2pm. Even then, the damp patches had not improved enough for play to resume.
Of particular concern were patches where puddles had gathered at the edge of the covers, which will lead to questions over the number of covers at Kingsmead. Currently, Kingsmead's covers keep the pitch and square protected but do not extend to the rest of the outfield. It is estimated that Kwa-Zulu Natal Cricket Union would need around R400,000 (US$30000). Should cricket be played in winter again, that investment may have to be made but this time, few would have expected it was needed.
Winter rainfall has been prevalent this year despite it being an unusual occurrence in Durban. In the last three weeks, the same amount of rain has fallen that the city usually gets over the three months from August to October. The excessive rain, along with the delayed start to the relaying of the outfield which took place in June, left the outfield unable to cope with the unexpected moisture. Light was also a concern with early sunsets threatening to eat away at playing time, but play continued until 5:20pm on the first day. Still, 12.2 overs were lost on day one and 68 on day two, bringing the total number of overs lost to 170.2.
Still, 180 overs remain and with good weather forecast for the next two days, there may be enough time for a result other than a draw. Sunday's tickets will be valid for the remaining two days or for a Dolphins domestic match later this season.
Day 4
South Africa 263
New Zealand 15/2 (12.0 ov)
New Zealand trail by 248 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
By Monday, when there was no cricket played again, eight of 12 sessions in the Kingsmead Test had been lost to rain and an outfield that had become quite soft underfoot. Conditions should brighten up for the final day of the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand, but considering the match is barely into its second innings, the likelihood of a result appears quite bleak.
There has been no rain over the past 48 hours. But the damage caused by a substantial downpour after the second day's play when a recently relaid outfield took on 65 mm of water could not be overcome. Considering it was winter in Durban, the prospect of the outfield drying out under the sun was also relatively low.
The existing facilities at Kingsmead allow only the square to be covered in case of rain. When the umpires inspected the ground prior to the start of play - 10 am - on Monday, they found patches of the unprotected outfield still gave way to pressure sparking concern for the safety of the players.
A second inspection was scheduled for 12 pm, the only outcome of which was the time of the next inspection at 2pm. The match officials conferred together again and called play off at 2.18 pm.
Two days ago, when last there was cricket at Kingsmead, New Zealand were 15 for 2, with Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor at the crease, trailing South Africa's 263 by 248 runs.
Day 5
South Africa 263
New Zealand 15/2 (12.0 ov)
Match drawn
The Durban Test was called off on day five, more than half an hour before the scheduled start of play, as the issues with the soft, damp outfield persisted. That meant 11 of the 15 sessions were lost to rain and the subsequent wetness and softening of the outfield.
The damage was caused by a substantial downpour after the second day's play when the recently relaid outfield took on 65 mm of water. Since then, there had been no rain, but the outfield - which was not fully covered when the rain came down - did not recover in the weak, winter Durban sun.
Three days ago, when the last of the cricket was played, New Zealand were 15 for 2 in response to South Africa's 263 with the ball swinging around significantly and the Test promising to be an interesting contest.
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