VICTORY for New Zealand in the second cricket test, as unrealistic as many critics may deem it, would see the Black Caps equalling their best series performance against South Africa.
Today's game at Axxess St George's is the final game in the 14th series between the two countries. Since they first met in 1931-32, the Black Caps have yet to win a series, having shared three and lost 10.
Given last week's rout in Cape Town, many will be backing another Proteas triumph, but instead of reflecting on that disaster, New Zealand would do well to invoke the spirit of the 1961-62 tourists, who produced arguably their country's best performance against South Africa.
In that five-match series, John Reid's tourists came to St George's Park 2-1 down, but managed to clinch the final test by 40 runs to share the honours.
Besides those two victories, there have been lean pickings for New Zealand, who have won only four matches out of 39 in the overall test record. SA have won 22.
The Black Caps had some success in 1994-95 under Ken Rutherford, shocking the home side in the first test in Johannesburg, but SA hit back to win the series 2-1.
New Zealand's fourth test victory came in 2003-04 under Stephen Fleming, but SA won the last test to share the series 1-1.
The remaining shared series came in 1963-64 when all three tests were drawn.
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