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Bowlers dominate day 3

Sunday, March 28 2004

Chris Martin continued from his eleven wicket bag from Auckland with another five wicket haul as South Africa were reduced to 316. In return New Zealand are 128-5 with a lead of 109.

Martin van Jaarsveld and Jacques Rudolph on a typical blusterly Wellington breeze, came out to bat on day three with the score on 237-3 - trailing by 60 runs with seven wickets in hand and looking to build a big lead on day three.

Daniel Vettori opened up the bowling with Michael Mason, and van Jaarsveld brought up his 50 with an early boundary off Vettori to join Rudolph who had brought up his half century on day 2.

On 251, Chris Martin who had replaced Vettori, made an early beakthrough, wth van Jaarsveld cutting a ball in the air directly to Jacob Oram at gully for 59.

Mason lacked control early on and Rudolph hit three boundries of one Mason over. Martin made another breakthrough next over, Jacques Kallis edged a lifting ball behind to Brendon McCullum for zero. South Africa were 265-5, and New Zealand were back on top.

Three balls later, Mark Boucher drove a widesh ball and was caught by Michael Papps for zero at third slip. South Africa were at 265-6. Martin had five wickets and brought up 50 Test wickets and 50 first class wickets in the 2003/04 First Class season.

Shaun Pollock didnt last long, making 5 off 7 balls, before he was caught by Stephen Fleming at first slip off the bowling of Oram. South Africa were struggling at 270-7 and New Zealand were odds on for a small lead.

Nicky Boje continued with his good preformances in this Test and gave valuable support to Rudloph, hit a session off boundries off Oram, Martin and Cairns and went past New Zealand's score of 297. On 304, Cairns broke through for New Zealand bowling Boje - who played on while trying to cut - for 25.

Four runs later, Makhaya Ntini was dissmissed caught by McCullum. Ntini ducked a Cairns bouncer with his bat up in the air, rebounded off Ntini's helmet, hit the inside edge and flew up in his air and was caught by McCullum. SOuth Africa were at 308-9.

Andre Nel didnt last long, caught by Oram off the bowling off Cairns for zero. South Africa were dissmissed for 316. Rudolph finished unbeaten on 93 off 212 balls. Martin finished with figures of 5-55.

Pollock made a early breakthrough for South Africa, dissmissing Papps for zero with the score on 1. It wasnt the ideal start for New Zealand straight after lunch.

Fleming and Mark Richardson combated some tight South African bowling and made their way to 42, before Fleming edged behind off Nel for 9. New Zealand 42-2 after 232 overs.

Mathew Sinclair strode to the crease full of confidence from his first innings in 74, and continued on in that vain. Sinclair hit four four's on his way to 21, before he was out lBW off the bowling of Pollock. New Zealand struggling at 73-3, with an overall lead of 54.

Boje struck again for South Africa dissmissing Richardson caught by Graeme Smith for 37, New Zealand 107-4. Four runs later, McCullum was bowled by Boje for three. New Zealand in trouble at 111-5.

However, Cairns (7*) and Scott Styris (41*) held out for New Zealand taking them to 128-5 with a lead of 109.

These two hold the key for The Black Caps in a bowler dominated series.

New Zealand 297
South Africa 316 (Rudolph 93*, Gibbs 77, van Jaarsveld 59; C.Martin 5-55, Cairns 4-60)
New Zealand 128-5 (Styris 41*, Richardson 37, Sinclair 21; Pollock 2-31, Boje 2-40)

Posted by Craig