Christchurch: South Africa's left-handed opening batter, 32-year-old Sarel Erwee, scored his maiden century to give the tourists a strong start, with the Proteas ending Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand on 238/3 at the Hagley Oval here on Friday.
Following the debacle in the opening Test at the same venue, where South Africa lost by an innings and 276 runs, Erwee scored a patient 221-ball 108, sharing fruitful partnerships with captain Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram as the tourists aim to hit back with crucial World Test Championship points away from home.
Erwee could only manage 10 and a duck on his Test debut a week back as the Proteas had suffered an innings defeat, getting bundled out for 95 and 111 with the Blackcaps notching up 482.
Blunting Blackcaps' skipper Tom Latham's five-man pace attack alongside skipper Elgar, the pair moved the tourists into a commanding position by the tea break. It was a surprising move by Elgar to elect to bat after winning the toss, ignoring the historic trend at Hagley Oval and not shying away from the ferocious New Zealand bowling attack, which was rampaging in the first Test.
Erwee was slower in his innings, though moved into his knock through a mix of shots and provided the majority of runs by the time South Africa brought up their century opening stand. It's the first opening stand of over a hundred by the Proteas in Test cricket in 10 years.
Brief scores: South Africa 238/3 in 90 overs (Dean Elgar 41, Sarel Erwee 108, Aiden Markram 42, Temba Bavuma 22 not out) vs New Zealand.
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