Pace bowlers leave NZ in tatters
Saturday, 10 November 2007
South Africa's pace bowlers ripped through some flimsy batting to leave New Zealand struggling to remain in this match after only five sessions of the first Test at The Wanderers. New Zealand lost 8 for 77 in little more than a session and then South Africa extended their lead to 171 at tea for the loss of their openers, reports Cricinfo.
The only defence New Zealand's batsmen could offer was that the pitch had quickened up overnight and become bouncier - but it was still a fundamentally good surface to bat on - and that Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Andre Nel and, towards the end of the session, Jacques Kallis, all bowled superbly. However, several of the batsmen failed to do the basics right and paid for poor footwork and an inability to cope with bounce.
Steyn made the breakthrough in the fifth over, firing in a yorker at the base of Shane Bond's off stump. It would have tested a top-order batsman; for a nightwatchman, it was far too good.
Stephen Fleming was the key for New Zealand. He continued where he left off last night, stroking two fours, slashing at a few, and being forced to duck and weave as Steyn and Nel tested him out. It was Ntini who produced a peach to remove him, moving one across the left-hander which he had to play, AB de Villiers at third slip clutching a catch inches from the ground.
Much as Bond and Chris Martin had done yesterday, the quick bowlers piled on the pressure with accurate and testing bowling. In his second over Kallis removed Scott Styris, his feet planted as he fenced at and nicked a good delivery short of a length outside his off stump. It was poor technique from a frontline batsman, and in the next over Kallis took a good second-slip catch when Jacob Oram was surprised by one from Steyn that angled into his midriff. Kallis was again centre stage in his next over when Ross Taylor, on his debut, slashed a wide one straight to Herschelle Gibbs at gully.
Brief Scorecard:
New Zealand 1st innings:
CD Cumming 12, MHW Papps 2, SP Fleming 40, SE Bond 1, SB Styris 11, RL Taylor 15, JDP Oram 1, BB McCullum 9, DL Vettori 7, IE O'Brien 14, CS Martin 0. Extras: 6. Total: 118
South Africa (2nd innings): Total (2 wickets; 51 overs) 159 at 9:45 pm
The only defence New Zealand's batsmen could offer was that the pitch had quickened up overnight and become bouncier - but it was still a fundamentally good surface to bat on - and that Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Andre Nel and, towards the end of the session, Jacques Kallis, all bowled superbly. However, several of the batsmen failed to do the basics right and paid for poor footwork and an inability to cope with bounce.
Steyn made the breakthrough in the fifth over, firing in a yorker at the base of Shane Bond's off stump. It would have tested a top-order batsman; for a nightwatchman, it was far too good.
Stephen Fleming was the key for New Zealand. He continued where he left off last night, stroking two fours, slashing at a few, and being forced to duck and weave as Steyn and Nel tested him out. It was Ntini who produced a peach to remove him, moving one across the left-hander which he had to play, AB de Villiers at third slip clutching a catch inches from the ground.
Much as Bond and Chris Martin had done yesterday, the quick bowlers piled on the pressure with accurate and testing bowling. In his second over Kallis removed Scott Styris, his feet planted as he fenced at and nicked a good delivery short of a length outside his off stump. It was poor technique from a frontline batsman, and in the next over Kallis took a good second-slip catch when Jacob Oram was surprised by one from Steyn that angled into his midriff. Kallis was again centre stage in his next over when Ross Taylor, on his debut, slashed a wide one straight to Herschelle Gibbs at gully.
Brief Scorecard:
New Zealand 1st innings:
CD Cumming 12, MHW Papps 2, SP Fleming 40, SE Bond 1, SB Styris 11, RL Taylor 15, JDP Oram 1, BB McCullum 9, DL Vettori 7, IE O'Brien 14, CS Martin 0. Extras: 6. Total: 118
South Africa (2nd innings): Total (2 wickets; 51 overs) 159 at 9:45 pm