New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd Test at Christchurch, NZ v SA, Feb 25 2022 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That brings an end to the coverage of this game and the series. Hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the game and thanks for all the feedback. It really kept us engaged. Do keep them coming in. Until next time, on behalf of Vishal and our scorer Ranjith, signing off from here. Take care and be well. Bye.

Jez: "And today's brain teaser: has anyone ever got a pair and won 'player of the series' before?"

Saradindu sengu: "Very good . This commentary provided an opportunity for those who couldn't follow the live broadcast from the Hagley oval on mason prime . Viewing a true test cricket series between two brilliant sides brought back the thrill of test cricket of the bygone days . What a stark contrast between this test series and the a no- contest series to follow at home "

Elgar and Latham pose for the photographs as the trophy is shared. Hang on as I wrap everything up.

Dean Elgar: I just remember the look on your face when I said I will bat first. It is nice to see you with a better smile on your face this time around [talking to Mark Richardson]. Bold decision and one we had to take as a unit, luckily, it paid off for us. Something it might have backfired on us and I would've looked like a absolute idiot. I am one of those guys who live for the decisions that I make for the side. We had a few interesting ones of late. This is a big one in the context of playing away from home, being 1-0 down, being beaten in two-and-a-half days in the first game. We have shown in the past that we have a lot of characters within our unit and ultimately we want our characters to come out and rise up to make us stand up to level the series. Every Test victory is a big one for a player in his career. As a captain in that capacity, it's always gonna reckon as one of the better ones. We have got a long flight home, so will have some time to reflect with a glass of red wine. Pretty sure it ranks quite high. Our basics of the game went out of the window in the first Test and we needed to nail that down. We needed to score first innings runs, which is massive in Test cricket irrespective of conditions. You got to front up and score runs, you got to take 20 wickets to win a Test match, 40 wickets to win a series, we did not do that in the opening Test. Again 1-1 is quite a good reflection considering our tough spot after the first Test. It will be nice for us to be 1-0 up when we start the series, instead of being 1-0 down all the time. We have got a young exciting group, there's no lack of talent in the group. We just got to stick with what we have, work with what we have at the moment. We will get there, but it will take time. If we are winning or levelling when we are always behind it is always going to be a positive for us going forward. Hope the players realise that and work harder at the start of the series, it's gonna make us a lot better as a unit.

Tom Latham: Unfortunately, not the outcome we were hoping for. Yesterday was pretty even-stevens, South Africa slightly in front but we weren't able to break those partnerships yesterday morning and not able to build partnerships ourselves in first innings. We were not able to put up a good first inning score. The game hung in the balance for quite a long time, we knew SA were going to be at their best. Fair credit to them, they played fantastically well. You don't leave things for the rain in such situations, unfortunately we weren't able to build partnerships. Regardless of conditions, whether here or overseas, we want to get better anywhere, in all conditions around the world, find a way with the tail as well. Huge thanks to Dean and the South Africa team, it's not easy because of the quarantine rules. So thanks for that.

Henry: I think we had a lot of hopes coming into this game. Have to take your hat off to South Africa, they came back very strong and they thoroughly deserved the second Test. It was in the balance a lot, little partnerships with the bat especially at the end, kept on swung it back in their favour. We kept fighting but unfortunately we just wasn't quite there. At the end of the day you are coming to do a role, you wanna be taking wickets. It is a bit of disappointing we couldn't get there here, from a personal point of view, it was good to have a impact in the first game. You take it seriously, at that time definitely wasn't looking for the run, just trying to hang in there and survive. It is bitter-sweet to finish on that note but it is what it is. We were digging in deep, take it ball by ball and when the clouds came over, you never know. Try not to get caught up in that stuff and actually watch the ball.

Matt Henry is the Player of the Series for his 14 wickets at 16 and a half-century.

Rabada: Never easy playing against New Zealand, knew what we had to do and glad we got the job done. Not really, we have been in these positions before, in the first Test we completely didn't rock up and New Zealand were too good. We knew we had to win to at least make it 1-1. To be honest, I would prefer as a fast bowler to be bowling on the wicket that we played on the first Test. This wicket was a lot slower, we had to work a lot harder and the tactics had to change, but glad that we could just get through. It is always expressed in every dressing room, the lower order should get as much as they can. With the game on the line, the lower order needed to put their hands up and that's what we did. Temba did not want that one. I'm kidding, it split us right in between, it was a last-second decision to go for it. I wasn't sure if he was going for it, glad that I caught it.

Kagiso Rabada is the Player of the Match.

Keshav Maharaj is up for a chat. "It is always nice and fitting I think, I was waiting for the ball and the captain threw the ball to me, it was nice to end off on that note. It was a a bit of a threat, the last time we toured here it actually worked in our favour. Luckily the raingods were on our side today and got us back on the field. Thank you for the coaching staff and Dean for putting the faith in me, I just been working on my game and waiting for my opportunity, glad I got the opportunity this game. I take it quite personally whether I'm playing or not if the team loses. I want to make an impact in a positive manner, I keep to my routines when I'm not playing and keep bowling and bowling and wait for my opportunities to come. That helped me from a motivational and confidence point of view but also to contribute to the team's victory. I know Dean has a lot of faith in me and I was quite happy with way the ball came out. The coaches have been working with me on various aspects on my game in the nets from a technical point of view and glad to reap the rewards right now."

Stat: The last time NZ lost two Tests in a home summer was in 2015-16. And before that was in 2009-10. So only twice in the last 12 years.

Caleb: "Man of the series the last one to fall to secure a drawn series. Feels like a fitting way for South Africa to complete the turnaround. "

Tom: "Disappointing from a NZ perspective, but in hindsight 1-1 was a realistic assessment coming into the series."

Yann: "Oh I wish there were at least another Test in this all-too-short series! After the Women's Ashes, here's another shining example of how great Test cricket is."

Jeremy: "If more of the NZ team batted with a sense of purpose, they would have been able to save the match. Blundell, de Granhomme should have done better. Jamieson and Southee giving catching practice, we won't even talk about Latham, Young and Nicholls who were pathetic. All three of them totalled less in both innings than Rabada in one innings and they are classed as batsman. Well done SA, thoroughly deserving. Goodbye World Test Championship. Stead needs to be more innovative than he is."

New Zealand will be disappointed not to have sealed their first-ever series win after coming into the game against South Africa as overwhelming favorites. But like against Bangladesh, they failed to adapt to a slowish pitch and their batters just couldn't handle Rabada, Jansen and Maharaj with the pressure being relentless. So two Tests lost in the home summer which is a quite a rarity for them. Do hang around for the presentation.

Today when it looked like Conway and Blundell were digging in, Sipamla got the left-hander and then short ball ploy ripped out the lower middle-order with a few questionable shots from the Kiwis helping the Proteas. Maharaj played his part with crucial wickets and he finished it off with rain around.

3.45pm: What a comeback by South Africa to level the series. One of their finest Test wins ever considering whatever happened before. After a brutal hammering on the same ground just a week back, they have stormed back to keep their proud unbeaten series record against New Zealand intact. It all started with a brave decision to bat first - albeit on a brownish slow seamer - by Elgar at the toss in this game. He surprised everyone but that opening session when he and Erwee dug in showed their resolve and character. A wicketless opening session set the tone and South Africa never looked back from there. The pitch got quicker and Rabada who had a below-par opening Test rose to the occasion with a five-fer. Then in the second innings, Verreynne got his maiden ton and Rabada shone with the bat with a quick cameo to put the game beyond the hosts's reach.

Maharaj from the other end

Another silly point added. Two in there now. Very close to each other

The players are back and Rabada will complete the unfinished over.

Good news for South Africa - the covers are off and we should restart after tea rightaway.

From Sampath:

Only twice South Africa ended a wicket away from a Test win in the 4th innings, both during the 2009-10 home series against England.

3.19pm: The umpires get together and off they go. Early tea called as well. Rabada and Elgar don't want to go off. But the rain has got heavier and the pitch is under covers. The lights are on as well. There was rain forecast for the day and it has come. Wagner and Henry happy to go off. Just the last wicket left for South Africa after grabbing 4 in the session. 3 to Jansen - all to the short ball as the New Zealanders couldn't hold back against the short ball. But this last wicket has frustrated the visitors and rain has come to their rescue. Vishal will be back after tea to complete the proceedings.

Peter: "How cruel if rain should decide this game. Vagaries of cricket right?"

Michael: "Blundell, de Grandhomme, Jamieson and Southee have all played terrible and totally unnecessary heaves at the ball. I just cannot understand why they would do that.

Ashk: "Imagine SA got everything gone to plan and they lose to the rain."

mark: "It would be ironic if it rained off, given NZ looked set to win the test the last time they played in NZ and rain stopped proceedings. SA do deserve it though and I don't think any rain would last given the forecast isn't for it to come till later this evening. "

Matt: "Christ what a late twist. Can't see this lasting 3 hours but if NZ had managed to only be 6/7 down now things would be very interesting."

Abhishek: "Remember Hamilton 2017...it rained all day to save South Africa..So No one shall complain..anyway the rain is light and we have 39 overs still left so it won't be the end ..Though the numbers of overs left to bowl will be less most probably 25-30"

Kiwi in NY: "I played a lot (and I mean a lot!) of cricket at Hagley Oval back before it was a test ground. When the weather comes in as a slow drizzle and get heavier, it's here to stay for 8-12 hours sorry. As a Kiwi, I have to say South Africa deserved to take this one - I hope I'm wrong about the weather, but I don't think I will be..."

Rain getting heavier now. Groundstaff ready

Cam: "Can we please talk about Wagner opening the batting going forward? Faced more deliveries in each of his innings than both openers got combined. 16 deliveries vs Wagner's 18 and 29*Maybe make him Captain as well?"

Maharaj with four men close to the bat from around the wicket

Frances: "SA bowlers cannot afford to lose direction with all this chirping.... Get the job done. No time for laurels just yet."

Proud Kiwi: "Raining in Addington, about 2km from the ground!!Come on boys"

Hayden Caampbel: "Raining at Tawse Manor some 15 minutes from the ground. NZ only hope of pegging this one back. "

VN: "Well you guys did not publish my earlier comment where I said it would be all over within 2 overs after the new ball, this is getting really frustrating now for RSA"