South Africa Grind Into The Lead

Kallis drives for 4 druing his 107x

The cricket was a tad old fashioned at the University Oval Dunedin on the pivotal third day of the First Test but despite a scoring rate stuck at about three and over for most of the day, South Africa stuck to first principles and kept their wickets intact. More accurately, skipper Graeme Smith and his most valuable asset, the enduring Jacques Kallis kept their wickets in safe keeping for so much of the day that New Zealand now face a daunting last day to save the game.

Their was plenty of the old fashioned in the 14 balls it took South Africa to finish the Kiwis off at first light. Chris Martin, the world most renowned duck farmer got off the gozzer with a five off the second ball of the day, taking a suicide run to get away from Dale Steyn but Alviro Petersen's throw scraped the stumps and went to the boundary for overthrows. Trent Boult did his own farming, this time of the strike. In Philander's only over, Boult went 6, 4, 6, 6, but Martin was before they could play the tie breaker. They weren't pretty but pretty effective.

With a small lead, New Zealand started well. After Smith and Petersen had added 45, Doug Bracewell removed Petersen and Hashim Amla in his second over, the latter to a brilliant slips catch by Martin Guptill, diving to his right at second slip and robbing it from the blades of grass by millimetres. He'll drink free beers on that story for many years to come. Will Bracewell muscled up and threatening, it took special batting to resist and that's just what New Zealand confronted.

Smith - SA have never lost when he
makes a hundred.

Kallis, in particular, was superb. He was harsh on the short stuff early but completely negated the threat that Dan Vettori offered with sweeps and good footwork. He may be susceptible outside his off stump early but we are all human. Get him before he is double figures or be prepared for a long day. Smith himself must have been incredulous and grateful that the bowlers spent so much of the day on his middle and leg stumps, allowing him the luxury of playing to his favoured leg side. By tea, Ross Taylor had thrown everything he had at the pair but they stood their ground and waited for the inevitable loose ball that will always come from an attack which is below world class. Martin had no variations and didn't bother them once and whilst Southee and Boult offered enthusiasm, it wasn't enough. Only Bracewell who looks a class above the rest and the forever teeth gindingly tight Vettori gave the batsmen need for deep thought.

The second second and third sessions came and went as Smith and Kallis raised a neat 200 for the third wicket. Bracewell, finally bowling the so called fourth stump line with the new ball, moved one enough to a tiring Smith who was out in the all too familiar manner of an inside edge hitting his castle. By then it was too late. Jacques Rudolph, promoted ahead of AB deVilliers, batted with Kallis until stumps, the damage having already been done.

The wicket is wearing and by Sunday, it may have moved beyond docile and inconsistent height will be the problem to be countered by the New Zealanders. I don't fancy their chances against Steyn, Philander and especially Morkel. Ross Taylor might then question his own judgment that batting last was such a good idea.

Session Count: NZ 2, SA 6