A third defeat in six Tests sees New Zealand drop to sixth on the World Test Championship standings as South Africa respond to their first-up thrashing
Match Report:
Scorecard'So disappointed': NZ's WTC hopes slip as SA bounce back
New Zealand's hopes of defending their World Test Championship title suffered another setback when South Africa crushed them by 198 runs in the second Test in Christchurch on Tuesday.
It was New Zealand's third defeat in six Tests over the past three months, and their second at home, where they have enjoyed being almost unassailable in recent years.
A defeat in India in December was followed by a shock first loss to Bangladesh in Mount Maunganui in January before being outclassed by South Africa at Hagley Oval this week.
An emphatic victory in the first Test against the Proteas had given New Zealand hope of gaining enough WTC points to put themselves in a position to defend the title they won by beating India in the final in England last year.
But they were never really in the hunt after South Africa held a 71-run first-innings lead and then cracked 9-354 in their second innings to set New Zealand a world record 426 to win.
New Zealand lost their first two wickets for just six runs, went into the final day at 4-94 and were out just after tea for 227.
It leaves New Zealand sixth in the nine-team standings with 28 Test Championship points from six Tests while South Africa are fourth with 36 from five matches.
Image Id: 649F57E99E3F4C2DB85448F843342B8F Image Caption: Kyle Verreynne's maiden Test ton powered the Proteas on day four // Getty"I'm so disappointed to be in this position," Latham said, adding that to make the 2023 WTC final, New Zealand have to perform much better away from home.
"One hundred percent we do. Obviously you go out with the ambition of winning every Test match you play, especially at home.
"When we head to England in a few months it's important we shift our focus and try our best to win that series over there and get as many points as we can."
With the teams ranked by the win percentage, Sri Lanka head the championship table with two from two (100 percent), followed by Australia (86.66 percent) with four wins from five followed by Pakistan with three from four for 75.00 percent.
Sri Lanka start a two-Test series in India this week while Australia have a three-Test series against Pakistan starting in Rawalpindi on Friday.
England are bottom of the table having lost six of nine Tests with two drawn for a 9.25 win percentage.