New Zealand A opener Curtis Heaphy scored a stunning hundred to put his team in the driver’s seat in the second unofficial Test against South Africa at Benoni.
Coming into the second match with a 1-0 lead, New Zealand started with another dominant display, posting a formidable first-innings total of 482. Their mammoth score was spearheaded by a magnificent 190 from 22-year-old opener Heaphy, who faced 376 balls and hit 20 fours. The next highest contribution came from No.10 Jayden Lennox, who scored 88 for his maiden first-class fifty. They were supported by wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay, who chipped in with 56.
That was Heaphy’s second first-class century, having scored the first one – 328-ball 131 – for Central Districts in a 2023-24 Plunket Shield match against Wellington.
Among South Africa bowlers, Tiaan van Vuuren (4-107) and Okuhle Cele (3-101) shared seven wickets. In reply, the hosts made a strong start, reaching 159-2 by stumps on day two. They capitalised on it on the third day, getting to 470-6 at the time of writing, with Sinethemba Qeshile leading the charge, batting on 162 off 189.
2nd unofficial Test, South Africa A vs New Zealand A
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New Zealand's openers have provided consistent starts throughout the series. Earlier, in the first four-day match in Potchefstroom, Heaphy's opening partner, Rhys Mariu, starred with a monumental 258-ball 249.
Who is Curtis Heaphy?
Heaphy, 22, was born in Palmerston North, Manawatu and progressed through Central Districts' age-group teams to the senior side. He enjoyed a breakthrough 2024-25 season in New Zealand's domestic List A competition, The Ford Trophy. Finishing as the competition's leading run-scorer, he amassed 502 runs at an average of 71.71, including one century and three fifties, which propelled Central Districts to a top-four finish. He was also part of CD’s title-winning 2024-25 Super Smash (New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition) campaign, scoring 195 runs at 27.85 and 110.79.
Heaphy made his New Zealand A debut in a List A match during their tour of Bangladesh in May. His first fifty (71) for them, however, came in the subsequent unofficial Tests against the same opposition later that month.
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