Day 4: To the Wire
Monday, March 29 2004
Graeme Smith and Chris Martin - both potential match winners for their sides - have ensured that the third and final Test match between New Zealand and South Africa will go down to the wire following a tense battle on day 4 leaving South Africa requiring 152 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
New Zealand resumed day 4 at 5/128 as Scott Styris and Chris Cairns answered early questions from a probing South African attack.
Both batsmen played with an impressive amount of fluency on a pitch that began to play up late yesterday. Following a partnership of 87 the opening wicket of the day fell to Nicky Boje whom had Cairns caught by Martin van Jaarsveld for 41 in an impressive innings that begged for more.
An over later the Proteas claimed the key wicket of the morning as Styris was caught and bowled by Andre Nel for 73. While having not had an impressive tour, Nel remains a key in the future of cricket in his country as they crave for a bunch of young idols.
As Jacob Oram diligently pottered at one end, Daniel Vettori fell to Makhaya Ntini for 9 and Michael Mason completed his maiden test 0 attempting a suicidal 3rd run.
Yet Oram found unlikely solace in Chris Martin - widely renowned as the world's number one batting bunny - who calmly composed a single from his 15 unbeaten deliveries. While certainly not a stylist, without a shot in the textbook, Martin showed character in sticking with his partner. For such a batsman this is all that can be asked, and should New Zealand claim victory the time he spent in the middle with the bat in both innings will have played an important part.
Oram was the last to fall as Boje claimed his 4th wicket of the innings - 4/69 - as the tall left-hander was trapped LBW.
Despite a strong opening over from Martin, Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs began the run chase in strong fashion as they moved to 0/29. Yet a straight delivery from Martin rather than his customary inswinger claimed the edge of Gibbs' bat as Stephen Fleming completed the catch and the first breakthrough.
A red-hot Jacques Rudolph came to the crease and before long was following the same tried and tested path as his opener, clean bowled by Martin from an off-cutter that took the top of off stump for 0.
As Jacob Oram trapped Jacques Kallis in front for 1 the Black Caps took a large slice of momentum at 3/36.
Warhorse batsman Gary Kirsten (19*) joined Smith at the crease and the pair forged a partnership in excess of 40 before stumps.
Smith looms large for New Zealand as the key wicket, currently unbeaten on 46.
Progress Score: Stumps Day 4
New Zealand 297 (M Sinclair 74, C Cairns 69, B McCullum 55; N Boje 4/65)
South Africa 316 (J Rudolph 93*, H Gibbs 77, M van Jaarsveld 59; C Martin 5/55, C Cairns 4/60)
New Zealand 252 (S Styris 73, C Cairns 41, J Oram 40; N Boje 4/69)
South Africa 3/82 (G Smith 46*; C Martin 2/30)
Posted by Andre
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