SA in New Zealand
Martin puts NZ on top
2012-03-07 08:39
Dunedin - New
Zealand seized control of the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday
thanks to a stunning spell of three wickets in four balls from paceman
Chris Martin.
The Proteas ended the day at 191 for seven, with
Jacques Rudolph (46) the only recognised batsman left after skipper
Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla scored half centuries but the rest of the
line-up failed to fire.
South Africa trounced New Zealand in the
limited overs series and the Test looked to be heading the same way
before Martin triggered a collapse that saw six wickets fall in the
final session of a rain-shortened day in Dunedin.
With almost four
hours of play lost to the weather, New Zealand captain Ross Taylor
looked to have made the wrong call sending South Africa into bat after
winning the toss, as the Black Caps' attack struggled in the first
session.
South Africa were 86 for one at tea, with Smith notching
his 31st Test 50 and Amla looking settled on a flat, lifeless pitch that
yielded only one wicket, Alviro Petersen (11), for New Zealand's
bowlers.
But Taylor's gamble paid off spectacularly when the
clouds cleared and Martin dismissed Smith for 53 in the first over after
the break, the batsman driving the ball to debutant Rob Nicol at cover
as he attempted a boundary.
Martin struck again in his next over,
dismissing Jacques Kallis for a duck when the batsman nicked the ball to
Taylor at first slip.
AB de Villiers became scalp number three in
the next ball, trapped lbw for a golden duck when the delivery nipped
back sharply, skidding past the bat and crashing into the batsman's
pads.
De Villiers called for a television review, which backed the
umpire's decision and sent the despondent South African trudging back
to the pavilion with the Proteas reeling at four for 90.
Martin
could not manage a hat-trick when Rudolph came to the crease but his
devastating spell lifted the Black Caps, who suddenly looked sharper in
the field and more threatening with the ball.
Amla kept his cool to steady South Africa, grafting out a valuable 66-run partnership with Rudolph to post his 22nd Test 50.
Doug
Bracewell thought he had the batsman caught and bowled on 56 but a
television review showed the chance fell just short of the diving
bowler's fingers.
However, Amla was dismissed in the next over,
mis-hitting a Daniel Vettori delivery and sending the ball looping to
Taylor in the slips.
Mark Boucher (4) faced only two balls before
being run out when Rudolph, on strike, took off for a single, only for
Bracewell to fire the ball back from the field to South African-born
keeper Kruger van Wyk, who broke the stumps.
Rudolph then survived
a huge lbw appeal from New Zealand on 32 when replays showed Bracewell
overstepped the line before releasing the ball.
The bowler made
amends in his next over, coaxing an edge from Dale Steyn to the slip
cordon which richocheted off Martin Guptill's hand but stayed in the air
long enough for Taylor to snatch the chance.
The Proteas will
hope Rudolph can combine with the tail enders to post a competitive
total to keep alive their dream of a clean sweep in the three match
series, which would see them take top spot in the ICC world Test
rankings.