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SA on top as frustrated Kiwis crumble
A frustrating third day of the first test for New Zealand ended with three batsmen out and just 57 runs on the board, still 474 short, against South Africa at Liberty Life Wanderers on Saturday.
The Black Caps found themselves where no cricket team ever wants to be - at the bottom of a black pit called no-hope. Basically, they have seven wickets standing which have to get them through two whole days of action on a pitch where the bounce remains at times erratic.
South Africa's superb second innings was declared closed on 422 for three 45 minutes after tea, although their approach was baffling for much of the afternoon.
With a maiden test double century in his sights, Jacques Kallis prodded at a Jacob Oram delivery as it passed by outside his off stump and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum took a thin edge. Kallis was gone for 186, his ninth score between 150 and 189, after a majestic innings spanning 383 minutes and 262 balls, with 25 fours and three sixes.
While Kallis had played with tremendous authority, a lack of killer instinct was to the fore thereafter as Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince took all of 28.4 overs to add another 72 runs, although Amla offered a little burst of strokeplay straight after tea.
Amla's ice-cool temperament was well-displayed in his career-best 176 not out, which took eight-and-a-half hours and 378 balls to compile and included 24 often beautifully-timed boundaries.
New Zealand were left with a nominal target of 531 but, more importantly, 197 overs to survive. But their second innings soon went south.
Dale Steyn once again made life tough with the new ball, having Craig Cumming caught at first slip by Graeme Smith for seven, and Andre Nel then roared in and claimed two wickets in his first over.
He should have had a third wicket three overs later but for unfortunate officiating.
Stephen Fleming's prod at a delivery that nipped away and bounced more than expected provided a second catch for Smith at first slip, this one an excellent effort low to his left, and Ross Taylor cut a four and then gave a catch for Kallis at second slip.
An lbw appeal against Brendon McCullum that Hawkeye showed was hitting the middle of middle stump failed to meet with the approval of umpire Daryl Harper, and McCullum and Scott Styris gleaned another 18 runs before stumps.
Cricket South Africa and the Gauteng Cricket Board can expect to derive decent revenue on Sunday as a good crowd - 6 000 attended on Saturday - roar on the home bowlers. There will be no hiding from Steyn, Ntini and Nel for the Kiwis on Sunday.
Teams
South Africa - Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Paul Harris, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn.
New Zealand - Michael Papps, Craig Cumming, Stephen Fleming, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.
