The first test between South Africa and New Zealand continued to smoulder with exciting possibilities as the hosts ended the second day on 243 for nine at the University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday.

Defending just 238, South Africa managed to suppress the determined New Zealand’s batsmen’s push for a sizeable first-innings lead with a wonderfully disciplined and skilful display of bowling. A relentless line just outside off stump would give birth to a host of chances and there was also a controlled spell of leg-spin by Imran Tahir and good catching behind the wicket to complete a fine day for the tourists.

New Zealand’s last two batsmen – Trent Boult and Chris Martin – are at the crease and, with the lead just five runs, there is nothing to separate the two teams heading for the halfway mark.

The Black Caps had resumed after tea on 144 for five and Daniel Vettori and Kruger van Wyk, playing in his first test, gave little away as they added 53 for the sixth wicket.

The ball was 68 overs old and nothing much seemed to be happening for South Africa when captain Graeme Smith called his regular partnership-breaker, Jacques Kallis, into the attack. The Golden Arm once again did the trick, inducing a nothing-shot by Vettori and a return catch, which Kallis had to dash forward and dive to take.

Vettori might not look particularly stylish at the crease, but the left-hander is mightily effective as he showed in scoring 46 off 78 balls, with eight fours.

The South African-born Van Wyk battled on for over two hours, scoring 36 before Vernon Philander, armed with the second new ball, duped him into pushing at a delivery outside off stump, edging a low catch to Smith at first slip.

Tim Southee was easily dispatched by Philander as he lamely wafted at his second ball and was also caught by Smith at first slip, for a duck.

Doug Bracewell played an invaluable role in giving New Zealand the lead as he scored 25, before he was bowled by an inspired delivery from Dale Steyn that pitched on middle-and-leg before crashing into off-stump.

Philander was the most successful of the South African attack with 4-50 in 17 overs, but all the bowlers played a part in a fine all-round performance with the ball.

South Africa had removed dangermen Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in quick succession to reduced New Zealand to 144 for five at tea.

McCullum and Taylor were the third and fourth wickets to fall, for 48 and 44 respectively, the double strike turning the tide back in favour of the South Africans after New Zealand’s two premier batsmen had added 65.

Morne Morkel has suffered mixed fortunes this year, but the lanky fast bowler set the tone with a marvellous burst straight after lunch, starting with the wicket of Martin Guptill for 16 with his fifth ball after the break.

Guptill was way too late with a tentative prod outside off stump and succeeded only in edging the ball back into his own stumps, and Morkel then piled on the pressure, with able support from Philander and Tahir, on to McCullum and Taylor.

But they batted with tremendous discipline and positive footwork and the momentum was New Zealand’s as they carried the hosts to 106 for two.

It was the leg-spin of Tahir that eventually made the crucial breakthrough, the persevering former Pakistani gratefully accepting the return catch after McCullum top-edged a sweep.

Morkel’s worst ball of the day – a dreadful short, wide delivery, brought its award, however, as Taylor edged a flatfooted cut through to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Philander’s unrelenting accuracy and remorseless probing did for Kane Williamson (11), who edged a back-foot drive for Boucher to take his second catch.

McCullum and Guptill had defied the best of the South African bowlers as they steered New Zealand to 40 for one at lunch.

Guptill and McCullum were proudly obdurate as they shrugged off the early loss of Rob Nicol to survive the next dozen overs before lunch without being parted, adding 33 for the second wicket off 76 balls.

South Africa had earlier been dismissed for 238 in their first innings on a sunny, but still chilly, day on the South Island.

The visitors had resumed on 191 for seven and Jacques Rudolph completed a tenacious half-century in two-and-a-half hours as he and Philander brought up the 200.

The useful eighth-wicket partnership had grown to 35 when Martin, the hero of the first day, removed Philander for 22. The potential all-rounder was just beginning to up the tempo when Williamson did very well to hang on to a full-blooded cut in the gully. The wicket gave Martin final figures of 4-56 in 18 overs.

Rudolph, the star of the South African innings for his determination if nothing else, then followed a widish delivery from Bracewell (2-52) and edged it to point, falling for 52 off 99 balls.

Morkel (13*) and Tahir (10) then added another 16 runs for the last wicket before Tahir was run out trying for a crazy third run, but both bowlers did more important work with the ball in the afternoon.

New Zealand’s batsmen had 16 overs to face before lunch and the test-match edition of Guptill showed an admirably straight bat and strong defensive technique as he reached 16 not out at the break.

South Africa did pick up the wicket of his fellow opener Nicol for six in the fourth over. Philander was bowling an immaculate line just outside off stump and seaming the ball both ways, so the debutant Nicol obviously had to play at the shortish delivery that dismissed him, a touch of away movement finding the edge of the bat and presenting Smith with the easiest of catches at first slip.

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The insatiable Vernon Philander gobbled up four more wickets as New Zealand ended the second day of the first test against South Africa on 243 for nine at the University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday.

85th over – New Zealand have the first innings lead in style as Doug Bracewell flicks a poor delivery down the leg-side from Dale Steyn over square-leg for a one-bounce four.

82nd over – The second over with the second new ball brings two wickets for Philander and two catches for Graeme Smith at first slip. Kruger van Wyk’s fighting innings of 36 in over two hours is ended as he pushes at a delivery outside off stump and edges it low to Smith. Two balls later, Tim Southee wafts lamely outside off stump and is caught for a disappointing duck.

79th over – A lucky escape for Van Wyk on 34 as he pushes forward to an inswinger from Morne Morkel and is struck on the pad first. Umpire Billy Doctrove gives the batsman the benefit of the doubt in terms of him being struck outside the line of off stump. South Africa ask for the review, which says on-field call for the line, meaning Van Wyk stays and the visitors have no more reviews.

77th over – Short and wide from Steyn and Van Wyk square-cuts for an emphatic boundary. Bracewell ends a poor over from an off-colour Steyn with a classy cut for four through backward point.

76th over – Bracewell shuffles down the pitch and drives Imran Tahir on the full, through mid-on for four, despite a good diving effort by Graeme Smith on the boundary.

75th over – Steyn returns ahead of the second new ball and Van Wyk niftily late cuts him to the third man boundary.

74th over – Van Wyk wristily chops Jacques Kallis through point for four, despite a valiant attempt by Alviro Petersen diving and sliding on the boundary.

73rd over – New Zealand go past 200 as Doug Bracewell launches Imran Tahir over mid-on for a beefy boundary.

71st over – Lovely timing by Bracewell as he goes back and cuts Tahir through backward point for four.

68th over – Daniel Vettori and Van Wyk have just raised their fifty partnership and Kallis is brought on to bowl. And Golden Arm does the trick! WICKET – Vettori is aiming for the pull, but stops the shot because the ball does not bounce high enough, bunting the ball straight back down the pitch. Kallis rushes forward and then dives to take a splendid catch! Vettori did a great job for his team with his 46 off 78 balls, with eight fours.

66th over – Morkel pitches a yorker well outside off stump and Vettori throws the bat on it, sending the ball through gully for four.

60th over – Vettori jumps all over some width from Morkel, lashing the ball through the covers for four.

56th over – Van Wyk’s first international boundary comes as he drives Vernon Philander crisply through the covers for four. The second follows immediately afterwards as the diminutive former South African steers the ball very tidily between the slips and gully to the third man fence.

54th over – Philander continues after tea, but so does Daniel Vettori as he flicks a full ball from middle-and-leg through wide mid-on for four.

51st over – Dale Steyn returns, bowling around the wicket to the left-handed Daniel Vettori, who shovels a full ball through the covers and then leans back and cuts for two boundaries in the over.

50th over – WICKET – Vernon Philander has been probing away remorselessly at Kane Williamson with tremendous accuracy and the batsman finally succumbs as he edges a back-foot drive at a delivery that just nipped away a touch. Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher takes the catch and Williamson is out for 11.

46th over – Full and wide outside off stump from Morne Morkel and Vettori carves it through the covers for four.

45th over – Imran Tahir gets away with a rank full toss which Vettori somehow toe-ends back to the bowler, but then bowls another full toss next ball and the left-hander sweeps it through midwicket for four.

42nd over – Morkel returns but Ross Taylor eases his first ball straight down the ground for an excellent boundary and then lashes a square-drive for four two balls later. WICKET – But much like many of the South African batsmen, Taylor is seemingly at his most vulnerable when he feels he is getting on top of the bowlers. The New Zealand captain edges a flatfooted cut at a dreadful short, wide delivery from Morkel and is caught behind by Mark Boucher. Taylor scored 44 and played extremely well considering he’s been out of action for six weeks.

39th over – WICKET – Leg-spinner Tahir makes the breakthrough! Brendon McCullum tries to sweep, but is not to the pitch of the ball, there is turn and a top-edge goes straight up on the leg-side. Tahir runs across and gratefully accepts the catch, sending McCullum on his way for 48. That’s the wicket South Africa really wanted!

37th over – Over-pitched by Tahir and McCullum clips the leg-spinner straight back over his head for four.

31st over – McCullum is intent on attacking leg-spinner Tahir and latches on to a shortish delivery, pulling it powerfully through midwicket for four.

30th over – Taylor, despite not having played cricket for so long, is into his stride, while Steyn appears to be trying too hard. A full delivery from Steyn is driven beautifully through extra cover for four by Taylor.

28th over – Super timing by Taylor as just a controlled push sends the ball racing through mid-on for four off Steyn.

27th over – Morkel tries to fire in the yorker, but it’s a half-volley and McCullum punches the ball superbly straight back down the ground for four.

26th over – Steyn returns but Taylor unleashes a classic cut shot for four.

25th over – Morkel has bowled 36 balls in his off-side channel but now finally strays, McCullum glancing a leg-side delivery away for four.

24th over – Taylor has his first boundary off his 26th delivery via a commanding pull shot through square-leg for four off Philander.

20th over – Philander changes to a middle-stump line and McCullum turns the ball in front of square-leg with great timing for four.

17th over – A great start for South Africa and Morkel after lunch, but it could have been a phenomenal start! WICKET – Martin Guptill is bowled for 16 by the first ball he faces after lunch! Guptill’s footwork is sluggish and he then prods tentatively at a fast, full delivery from Morkel and inside-edges the ball on to his stumps. Morkel could have dismissed both batsmen in the same over as McCullum, still on 18, pushes forward to play the ball through mid-on, but inside-edges the ball on to his pad, from where it scoots low and to the right of Hashim Amla at backward short-leg. Amla gets both hands to the sharp chance, but can’t hang on to the catch.

16th over – Dale Steyn starts the away-swinger a bit straighter, but Martin Guptill ends the session with a super shot, showing the full face of the bat and pushing the ball straight back down the ground for four.

11th over – Brendon McCullum has been through a fascinating contest with Vernon Philander and Steyn, using nimble footwork and sound judgement to survive. Now Morne Morkel offers him some width and McCullum jumps
across to the off-side before cutting meatily for four.

4th over – A probing start by South Africa with the new ball, with a couple of close lbw shouts and several plays-and-misses, and eventually some reward. WICKET – Philander continues in the perfect channel just outside off stump and, with a bit of away-nip, finds the edge of Rob Nicol’s backfoot defensive stroke, leading to a simple catch for Graeme Smith at first slip. The debutant Nicol is out for six.

Useful late-order runs were the award for some decent batting by the tail as South Africa reached 238 all out on the second day of the first test against New Zealand at University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday.

69th over – WICKET – In keeping with the trend of the innings, South Africa waste their last wicket just as the 10th-wicket stand was beginning to frustrate New Zealand. Another friendly half-volley, this time from Doug Bracewell, is flicked through midwicket by Imran Tahir, who gets a comfortable two runs but then decides to try for a crazy third run. Daniel Vettori has loped after the ball, has it in hand, and his reasonable throw back to Bracewell catches Tahir well short of his ground. Tahir is out for 10, leaving Morne Morkel unbeaten on a bright 13 not out.

68th over – Imran Tahir gets in on the fun with a flashing square-cut for four through backward point off Chris Martin.

66th over – Super shot by Morne Morkel as he launches a good-length ball from Martin straight back over mid-on for four.

65th over – Morkel gets his innings going in fine fashion with a well-controlled drive through mid-off for four off Doug Bracewell. WICKET – But the seamer strikes back with the last ball of the over, as Jacques Rudolph lashes out at a widish away-swinger, edging it to point. Rudolph scored 52 off 99 balls, in 162 minutes, a nice display of defiance by the left-hander.

64th over – Vernon Philander had problems dealing with short lifter from Martin at the start of the over, fending the ball away on the off-side with his gloves, so the paceman tries another short ball, but this one doesn’t get up and the all-rounder pulls it for four. It’s the second boundary of the over after Philander edged a delivery between third slip and gully, and the batsman is just yards away from a third four as he cuts viciously at a short-pitched delivery. WICKET – It’s a full-blooded cut, but the delivery does seam back a bit to cramp the shot a touch, but Kane Williamson has nevertheless pulled off a very good catch in the gully, snatching the ball above his head. Philander is out for 22, some useful late runs.

63rd over – South Africa have made a bright start, pushing singles and running well between the wickets. Rudolph reaches his half-century as he tickles Tim Southee to fine leg for a couple of runs, the left-hander having batted for two-and-a-half hours, faced 96 balls and hit five fours.

South Africa wasted a sure start in tricky conditions to slump to 191 for seven at stumps on the first day of the first test against New Zealand at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.

Too many of the South African batsmen rinsed their hands of the responsibility of batting all day – on a shortened day of 59 overs – instead settling for all-too-brief displays of authority that did not wrest the advantage away from a New Zealand side that was typically determined and astute.

Captain Graeme Smith dominated the first session after South Africa had lost the toss and been sent in to bat two hours before tea, rain having washed out the entire morning session, and had reached tea on 53 not out from just 69 balls.

The left-hander profited from some confused lines of attack from the New Zealand bowlers, but his team never recovered from the rash shot he played in the first over after the break as the home side claimed six wickets from 33 overs to end the day in charge.

Trent Boult, the left-arm seamer, had claimed the first wicket of the day when he trapped Alviro Petersen lbw for 11, but it was the only success for New Zealand in a mediocre first session that saw Smith and Hashim Amla take their team through to the interval on 86 for one.

The drama started almost immediately after the break as Chris Martin claimed three wickets in four balls to send South Africa crashing to 90 for four.

Smith was the first to fall, failing to add to his score at tea. Martin beat Smith with a couple of fine away-swingers outside off stump and then, when he dished up a wide half-volley, Smith’s instinctive reaction was to lash out and try and impose himself again.

But the ball was so wide and going further away that Smith could not hit it cleanly, instead offering a straightforward catch to Rob Nicol at a shortish cover.

Martin began his next over in brilliant fashion as he whistled a delivery on to the shoulder of a squared-up Jacques Kallis’s bat, Ross Taylor diving to his left at first slip to take a sharp catch as the ball flew between him and wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk.

Kallis being dismissed for a duck should have caused some alarm in the complacent South African camp, but AB de Villiers was slow to react to his first delivery, not moving his feet and playing all around a delivery that jagged back into him from Martin.

Unfortunately for New Zealand, while Amla and Jacques Rudolph were battling to see off Martin at the one end, they made merry against the undisciplined bowling of Tim Southee and Boult at the other.

SLAP-DASH CRICKET

The overcast skies under which South Africa had been sent in were beginning to clear though and, counter-intuitively, conditions became more sporty for the bowlers as the day warmed up.

One of the most rivetting contests of the day was between veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori and Amla.

The Bearded Wonder had played some typically thrilling strokes in his 62, which included eight fours and a six off Vettori, but you always sensed he was trying to over-attack the canny former New Zealand captain.

Amla’s concentration lapsed – like so many of his teammates – as he tried to cut the fourth ball after the drinks break and edged Vettori, Van Wyk gloving the ball to slip Taylor.

South Africa’s slap-dash cricket was particularly prevalent in their running between the wickets, where they took many ill-judged risks and a run out was always on the cards.

It finally came in the 44th over with the demise of Mark Boucher, who did not get much of a chance to silence his critics as he hit his first ball for four and was run out off his second.

A crazy single to backward point and the quick reactions of Doug Bracewell enabled the South African-born Van Wyk, who left for New Zealand as he found his career blocked by Boucher, to get his name on the scorecard in his debut test and, coincidentally, his 100th first-class match.

Van Wyk, a contemporary of Rudolph’s at Affies and the Titans, showed slick glovework to gather Bracewell’s throw on the bounce and quickly break the stumps to catch Boucher just short of his ground.

Bracewell also always seemed to be doing something with the ball and gained his reward when he got Dale Steyn out for nine, a fine away-swinger, that also bounced more than expected, being edged to second slip, where it burst through Martin Guptill’s hands but went to Taylor at first slip, very nearly slipping through his grasp as well.

NO-BALL WICKET

Bracewell could easily have had Rudolph out on 32 in his previous over, seemingly trapping the left-hander plumb lbw. But the intervention of the third umpire, after the on-field umpire had refused the appeal, led to the exposé that the bustling seamer had over-stepped the line and bowled a no-ball.

Rudolph (46*) and Vernon Philander (4* off 37 balls) then steered South Africa to stumps in sombre fashion, a stark contrast to the shot-making parties that the top-order seemed to be enjoying.

Rudolph has looked composed and in the proper test cricket frame of mind of wearing down the bowlers, while Philander won many admirers for his restraint and dogged defence late in the day.

Martin was the best of the New Zealand bowlers with three for 34 in 14 overs, but the important work done by Vettori (15-4-31-1) and Bracewell (14-2-39-1) in stemming the run-flow and frustrating the batsmen should not be underestimated.

The South Africans have much work to do to prevent the impression that they have once again badly underestimated the fighting qualities of seemingly inferior opposition.

New Zealand staged an outstanding fightback in the post-tea session to reduce South Africa to 191 for seven at stumps on the first day of the first test at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.

49th over – WICKET – More good bowling by Doug Bracewell this time gets its reward. Dale Steyn (9) pushes at an away-swinger that also bounces more than expected, edging a catch to second slip. But Martin Guptill punches the chance, only for Ross Taylor at first slip to juggle the rebound before eventually hanging on to the chance!

47th over – Jacques Rudolph has a reprieve on 32 as Bracewell swings the ball back into the left-hander, the lbw appeal is turned down but replays show it was plumb. But the review is unsuccessful because the replay also shows Bracewell has bowled a no-ball!

45th over – Another crazy run by South Africa but this time they get the unjust reward of five runs. Steyn pushed Bracewell just in front of square on the off side and called for the run. Tim Southee’s throw was over the stumps as Rudolph dived desperately, and it beat the back-up fielder and ran to the boundary.

44th over – WICKET – South Africa have been dicing with death with their stupid running between the wickets all day and now they pay the price. Rudolph dabs Daniel Vettori to backward point, Bracewell moves quickly to his right and also gets his throw in quickly. Wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk then produces sharp glovework to gather the ball on the bounce and quickly break the stumps, catching Mark Boucher (4) short of the crease.

42nd over – WICKET – Four balls after the drinks break and Hashim Amla suffers a lapse in concentration. He tries to cut left-arm spinner Vettori, there is an extra bounce, and Amla edges the ball into wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk’s gloves, from where it loops to Taylor at slip. Amla played some great shots in his 62, with eight fours and a six, but would have wanted more! Mark Boucher comes in and is down the pitch to his second ball, flicking Vettori on the full through midwicket for four.

41st over – Amla very nearly gives Doug Bracewell a return catch, but the third umpire confirms the ball bounced just in front of the bowler’s fingers. Bracewell follows up with a poor delivery though, a long-hop outside off stump, and Amla leans back and it clatters through cover-point for four.

38th over – Trent Boult just misses the yorker and Rudolph clips the low full toss through midwicket for four. Amla then completes a 90-ball half-century as he emphatically drives a half-volley through the covers for his sixth four. Amla celebrates by repeating the stroke off the next delivery.

37th over – Amla edges Chris Martin wide of third slip for four, which encourages the pace bowler to pitch the next ball up. Amla strides forward and punches the ball impressively through the covers for four.

36th over – Boult replaces the disappointing Tim Southee, but bowls too short outside off stump and Rudolph is quickly on to the cut, with great power, and the pull shot to pick up two boundaries in the over.

34th over – Southee is releasing the pressure at the other end: A full ball outside off stump with some width is lashed through cover-point for four by Amla. Southee ends the over by also offering Rudolph width, and is slapped away for four more runs.

30th over – Southee strays on to leg stump and Amla flicks the ball beautifully through midwicket for four.

29th over – Martin turns the innings on its head with a sensational burst of three wickets in four balls! WICKET – Martin produces a beauty with the first ball of the over to remove Jacques Kallis for a duck. Kallis is squared up and there is extra bounce, his prod at the ball sending an edge flying to first slip, where Ross Taylor dives to his left to take a super catch. WICKET – AB de Villiers is trapped lbw first ball by Martin, who jags a delivery back into the batsman, who is stuck in the crease and wafts at the ball rather aimlessly.

28th over – Southee bowls too short and a touch wide and Amla places his square-cut to perfection to collect his first four.

27th over – A great first over after tea by Martin brings reward. WICKET – Martin beats Graeme Smith a couple of times outside off stump and the irritated South African captain then reaches for a drive at a wide delivery, hitting the ball straight to Rob Nicol at a shortish cover. Smith showed plenty of determination in his two hours at the crease for 53 off 74 balls, but his team needed more from him.

Graeme Smith was eager to impose himself on the match as he steered South Africa to 86 for one at tea on the first day of the first test against New Zealand at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday.

25th over – South Africa have had to dig in for the last half-hour or so as New Zealand’s bowlers clawed the run-rate back, but Smith now completes a determined half-century off 66 balls as he flicks a full ball from Tim Southee that is just outside off stump, through midwicket with great timing for four.

22nd over – Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has troubled Hashim Amla, who is determined to do something about it. Amla charges down the wicket, is nowhere near the pitch of the ball, but reaches for the drive and gets it over mid-on for six!

12th over – A commanding stroke by Smith as he gets confidently on to the front foot and drives a fullish delivery from left-armer Trent Boult with the angle, from just outside off stump and in front of midwicket for four super runs.

10th over – WICKET – Alviro Petersen tries to drive a full ball from Boult wide of mid-on, misses and is given out lbw for 11 after New Zealand call for a review of umpire Aleem Dar’s original not out decision. Only an inside-edge could have saved Petersen, but alas, there wasn’t one. He was driving so well, perhaps he was lulled into a false sense of security …

9th over – Too full from Chris Martin and Petersen drives beautifully straight down the ground for four.

8th over – And Boult starts his second over poorly with a half-volley outside off stump, which Smith punches through mid-on for four.

6th over – Left-arm seamer Boult is brought on in an early bowling change, but it doesn’t go well as he concedes 11 runs in the over. His second ball is too short and Smith pulls well for his second boundary, while his last delivery is over-pitched and pushed crisply straight down the ground for four by Petersen.

3rd over – Martin is struggling early on to bowl a consistent line and, having pitched the ball outside leg stump, Smith can comfortably clip the ball of his wickets, down to fine leg for the first boundary of the test.