New Zealand v. Sth. Africa - 3rd. Test

[Donny]

A last crack at redemption

S Rajesh - Cricinfo

South Africa began the series against New Zealand as favourites to win both the one-dayers and the Tests, but little has gone to plan for them since the tour began more than a month ago. Battered in the ODIs and in the second Test at Auckland, South Africa have their last opportunity to salvage the series in the third Test, which starts at Wellington on Friday.

Their batting capitulated at Auckland, but even more worrying for Graeme Smith would be the ineffectiveness of the South African bowling attack: they have managed just 22 wickets in the two Tests, with New Zealand scoring 509 and 595 in their first innings. Another total in that range at Wellington would almost certainly seal the series for them.

Shaun Pollock has been South Africa's most successful bowler with eight wickets, but half those scalps have comprised the Nos. 10 and 11 of the opposition line-up. Makhaya Ntini has struggled to overcome the lack of pace on the pitches, while the support seamers and the spinners have made no impression at all.

Pollock sought to play down these concerns on the eve of the Test. "We obviously aren't as happy as we could be about the bowling, there is no hiding from that, but we aren't happy with our all-round play either," he said. "But we've still got an opportunity to turn it around and we have to focus on that. We know we can get it right and each of us has been there and done that before.

You have your patches when it doesn't go according to plan but then again New Zealand, besides [Chris] Martin, haven't really hit their straps as well with big hauls of wickets."

New Zealand, on the other hand, have little to worry about. The bowling attack was thin at Hamilton, but Chris Martin redressed that with a dream performance at Eden Park, consistently swinging and seaming the ball to expose chinks in the South African line-up.

The difference between the two teams, though, has been the lower-order batting. In the first two Tests, New Zealand have converted scores of 223 for 5 and 314 for 5 into 500-plus totals; South Africa have been five down for 281, 240 and 250, and have ended up with 459, 296 and 349. For South Africa, the problems have often begun after they have removed the New Zealand top order.

Meanwhile, Trevor Jackson, the curator at the Basin Reserve, promised a pitch that would offer the seamers far more encouragement than the tracks for the first two matches. The intent, he says, is to produce a surface similar to the one on which Pakistan played the Boxing Day Test last year.

That turned out to be an engrossing match, with two sub-200 scores, and with Pakistan ultimately chasing down a fourth-innings target of 274 with plenty to spare. The fast bowlers had lots to celebrate too, taking 29 out of 32 wickets to fall.

The Wellington Test will also mark the end of Gary Kirsten's international career. He suffered a rare twin failure at Auckland, which was also his 100th Test, falling for 1 in each innings. On a pitch which is likely to reward the gritty accumulator more than the flashy strokeplayer, expect Kirsten to make his presence felt.
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Smith won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat.

They are 2/52 after 30 overs. Ntini has 1/24 and Kallis has bowled 7 overs and taken 1/4.

Fleming is 20 n.o.

[Donny]

Fleming goes for 30, to Boje's bowling. N.Z. are 3/90 from 40 overs.
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4/141 at tea. Sinclair is 62 n.o. Boje had 2/4. Now 2/31 from 12 overs.

[Donny]

At stumps, N.Z. are 6/248 having lost McCullum (55) from the last ball of the day.

Cairns is playing another good innings. He's 60 n.o. from 72 balls.

[London Dave]

BBC Radio just reported that rumour has it that Cairns is going to retire...heard anything on that?

[2 PIES IN CAIRNS]

LD, maybe you mis-heard it.
Is there any chance they said that 2PIC, who lives in Cairns, is about to retire because he's gunna win lotto tomorrow night??

GO PIES

[Donny]

Cairns in Test swansong?

From correspondents in Auckland - Fox

CHRIS CAIRNS is expected to quit international cricket after the New Zealand team's crucial third Test with South Africa in Wellington, the New Zealand Herald reports today.

The Herald said that the man who put South Africa to the sword last week here and then confirmed his place as one of the best allrounders in the game, is poised to announce his retirement from the Test arena at the end of the series.

The newspaper said it understand that Cairns, 33, will drop out of the five-day game, but will remain available for one-day internationals, meaning he could still be involved in this winter's tri-series in England and the International Cricket Council's Champions Trophy in September, also in England.

Cairns' manager, Lianne McGoldrick, said last night that he is anxious to leave any announcement until after the series against South Africa.

"Chris won't be making a decision until the season is finished," said McGoldrick.

"He doesn't want anything to detract from the team's focus."

[Donny]

Dave, that's all I could find about Cairns possible retirement.

As for your query, Pete, I'm combing through Psychic's Weekly and similar sites. Nothing yet.

[2 PIES IN CAIRNS]

LOL. Thanks Donny.

[Donny]

N.Z. all out for 297. Cairns made 69 and Oram, 34.

Boje took 4/65 and Pollock, 3/85.

[Donny]

Cairns bowled Smith for 47. S.A. are 1/111 with Gibbs on 61 n.o.
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3/171 as Martin (2/34) gets Gibbs for 77 and Kirsten, 1.

Can anyone tell me why Kallis is batting at 6 ??

[Donny]

It didn't do him any good as Martin got him for a duck. Kallis's average for the series dropped from 117.66 to 88.25

Chris Martin took his 3rd. 5 fa in succession as he and Cairns (4/60)crashed through, this morning. S.A. lost 7/79 to only take a 19 run lead. Martin took 5/55. He has 16 wickets @ 14.67 over the last 3 innings. He didn't play in the first Test.

Rudolph added to his already healthy average with 93 n.o. It now stands at 112 for the series.

Papps went for a duck to Pollock and N.Z. is 1/24.
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Fleming was caught behind from Nel for 9. N.Z. are 2/57. Richhardson is 31 n.o.

[Donny]

At stumps, it looks like Sth. Africa has the upper hand.

N.Z. is 5/128 and only 109 ahead. Styris is 41 n.o. and Pollock has 2/31. Boje has 2/40.

[Donny]

Rain shortened the morning session but N.Z. improved their position, somewhat.

They are 5/178 with Styris on 61 n.o. and Cairns, 35 n.o.

[Donny]

Martin strikes twice to set up intriguing final day

The Wisden Bulletin by S Rajesh


Another riveting day of Test cricket ended with all three results still possible: South Africa needed 152 to pull off a win and level the series, New Zealand needed seven wickets to wrap up a 2-0 win, while the inclement Wellington weather – which delayed the start of play by 90 minutes today – meant that there was a chance of rain ruining what could be a fascinating finish to the series.

In keeping with the trend throughout the last two Tests, the fourth day's play witnessed many ebbs and flows. Chris Cairns and Scott Styris snatched the initiative in the morning session with some blazing strokeplay, adding 50 in just 30 minutes.

Then, both fell in successive overs as the pendulum swung back in favour of South Africa. Chasing 234 for victory, Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith started off in a hurry, before Chris Martin, yet again, pegged South Africa back.

Getting appreciable swing with the new ball, he forced Gibbs to steer one to Stephen Fleming at first slip (29 for 1). Gibbs was in ominous touch, creaming a couple of gorgeous cover-drives and an astonishing front-foot pull for six off Martin, on the way to a 12-ball 16. Then, Martin uncorked an absolute jaffa to nail Jacques Rudolph – scorer of 154 not out and 93 not out in his last two Test innings – for a duck.

The ball pitched on leg, swung late, beat Rudolph's tentative defence, and knocked off stump out of the ground. After having raced to 28 without loss in four overs, South Africa were suddenly 31 for 2.

Five runs later, they had lost another wicket, as Jacques Kallis (1) was trapped in front by an indipper from Jacob Oram. Smith and Gary Kirsten then knuckled down to grind 46 for the fourth wicket. Kirsten, playing his last Test, displayed all his famed resolve and determination, and was unbeaten on a 58-ball 19, while Smith was on an assured 46.

It seemed South Africa would be set a much higher target than 234 when Cairns and Styris were blazing away in the morning session. On a cold and grey morning, both batsmen lit up the Basin Reserve with some scintillating strokeplay in what could have been an awkward 30-minute session.

Cairns sent out the message early in the piece, pulling Shaun Pollock's first delivery – a gentle half-tracker at 120 kmph – over midwicket for six. He then waded into Nicky Boje, whipping two fours in an over. Styris joined in the fun, smashing a couple of off-side fours to bring up his half-century, as the lead – just 109 overnight – galloped past 150.


The lunch break gave the South Africans time to think out a plan, and they came out with one: Boje changed his line of attack to over the wicket, and bowled well outside leg stump with a deep midwicket and a long-on.

It was an obvious trap, but Cairns fell for it, charging down and hoicking to leg. Martin van Jaarsveld ran around from deep midwicket and judged the catch to a nicety despite the swirling wind (198 for 6). Cairns made 41, in what could be his last Test innings.

More madness followed as Styris, who had motored along to 73, fetched a wide one from Andre Nel and slapped back a sharp return catch, which was well held by the bowler (201 for 7). Daniel Vettori edged a catch to the slips off Makhaya Ntini, and when Michael Mason was run out attempting a third run to give Oram the strike, New Zealand were 224 for 9, a lead of just 205.

Oram helped stretch the lead to 233 with some lusty hitting, including a pulled six over midwicket off Ntini, before he was trapped in front by Boje, who again bowled with superb control to return figures of 4 for 69.

In the Boxing Day Test earlier this season, Pakistan were set a target of 274, and romped home with seven wickets to spare. Martin's early wickets ensured that it wouldn't be quite as easy this time around. The stage was ideal for Kirsten to come up with a typically gritty effort. With only a single in each of his last three innings, he was certainly due a big score. Would he deliver, one last time, for South Africa?

[Donny]

Smith has scored a fighting century (109 n.o.) and has added 154 runs with Kirsten (60 n.o.) to bring Sth. Africa to within sight of victory.

They now need just 44 runs to win this Test and tie the series.

After scores of 0, 1 and 1, it's good to see Kirsten notch a half century in his last Test innings.