SA survive Kiwi scare, score victory
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

BLOEMFONTEIN NOVEMBER 21: South Africa survived a scare on the final afternoon before beating New Zealand by five wickets in the first Test at Springbok Park on Tuesday.

Inspired by a career-best bowling performance by fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, South Africa seemed set for an easy win when they needed to make only 101 on an easy pitch.

But the home team were rocked by the New Zealand pace attack, with opening bowlers Shayne O’Connor and Chris Martin both taking early wickets before Daryl Tuffey had a three-wicket burst.

It took a burst of strokeplay by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher, who made an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls, to put South Africa ahead in the three-Test series.Boucher finished the match in style with three successive swept fours off leg spinner Brooke Walker.

Ntini took six for 66 to end a fighting second innings by New Zealand, who had been forced to follow on. Ntini took three wickets in successive overs after lunch as New Zealand were bowled out for 342 after being 332 for seven at the interval.

New Zealand’s hopes rested with all-rounder Craig McMillan,who made a fighting 78. He batted watchfully for four hours in reaching his 50 but then played some handsome offside drives, particularly against Jacques Kallis.

But it was Kallis who deceived McMillan with a slower ball which the batsman mistimed to mid-on. McMillan’s dismissal shortly before lunch exposed New Zealand’s tail and Ntini was ruthless in finishing off the innings.

Ntini, 23, had taken the first wicket of the day when Brooke Walker flashed at a wide ball at the end of three successive maiden overs by Ntini. After lunch he bowled Tuffey off an inside edge, had Adam Parore caught at second slip and bowled Shayne O’Connor.

It was the first time in six Tests that Ntini had taken five or more wickets in an innings.

His previous best figures were four for 72 against England at Leeds in 1998.McMillan needed 158 balls to reach his 50, with seven fours, but then added 28 more runs off 29 deliveries with five more boundaries.

South Africa made a shaky start as they chased a small target on a good pitch, with Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis both trapped lbw.

Boeta Dippenaar hit five boundaries in making 27 before becoming Tuffey’s first Test victim.

Scoreboard

South Africa (1st Innings) 471-9 declared
New Zealand (1st Innings) 229

New Zealand (2nd innings);Overnight(260-5): M Richardson lbw b Donald 77, C Spearman c McKenzie b Ntini 15,M Sinclair c Klusener b Donald 20,S Fleming c Kirsten b Donald 99, N Astle b Ntini 8, C McMillan c Kirsten b Kallis 78, B Walker c Boucher b Ntini 10, A Parore c Kallis b Ntini 12, D Tuffey b Ntini 6, S O’Connor b Ntini 0, C Martin not out 0. Extras: (b-2, lb10, w1, nb4) 17 Total: 342
Fall of wickets:1-33, 2-93, 3-145, 4-175, 5-247, 6-285, 7-325,8-340, 9-341. Bowling: Donald 28-14-43-3, Pollock 25-11-47-0, Ntini 31.4-12-66-6, Kallis 23-4-88-1, Boje 40-15-61-0, Klusener 10-3-25-0.

South Africa (2nd Innings): Dippenaar c Parore b Tuffey 27 ,G Kirsten lbw b O’Connor 1, J Kallis lbw b Martin 13, D Cullinan lbw b Tuffey 22, N McKenzie not out 13, L Klusener c McMillan b Tuffey 4, M Boucher not out 22. Extras: (nb1) 1 Total: ( for 5 wkts, 26.3 overs) 103
Fall of wickets:1-3, 2-16, 3-55, 4-69, 5-75.

Bowling: O’Connor 7-0-28-1, Martin 5-3-18-1, Tuffey8-1-38-3, Walker 6.3-2-19-0.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.