New Zealand fought back to avoid the follow-on after a debut half-century from Brendon McCullum against South Africa at the close on the third day of the first Test on Friday.
At stumps New Zealand were 361-7 in their first innings in reply to South Africa’s 459, with Jacob Oram unbeaten on 49 and Daniel Vettori on 21.
New Zealand began the final session on 234-6, needing 26 to avoid the follow-on and they reached safety thanks to wicketkeeper McCullum’s belligerent 57 off 86 balls, which included 11 fours.
He and Oram added 84 in 105 minutes for the seventh wicket before Jacques Kallis had McCullum caught behind with the total standing 309. Scott Styris earlier scored with 74.
Kallis had the best South Africa figures of three for 61, while Shaun Pollock had two for 75 to move within two scalps of Allan Donald’s South Africa test record of 330 wickets.
With two days remaining, the state of an increasingly worn wicket is likely to play a crucial role as South Africa chase victory.
Friday’s play saw South Africa protest at repairs made to the crumbling wicket by groundsman Karl Johnson, who patched up an area near leg stump with cement overnight.
The tourists immediately reported the repairs to Lloyd who took action, ordering grounds-staff to undo the repairs.
”The pitch was repaired this morning, it’s disappointing. I’m not quite sure what happened, but it happened,” South Africa coach Eric Simons said.
”That was the first time that’s happened to us and it was rather strange.”
Lloyd in a statement said it was a ”misunderstanding” between Johnson and the umpires.
”There was some miscommunication between the ICC playing control team and the turf manager at the close of play yesterday. As a result he believed he had been instructed to secure several loose pieces of turf back in place.
”The condition of the pitch should not be artificially altered during the match. Before the start of play today I instructed that the pitch be returned to the condition it was at the close of play last night.”
As play progressed through Friday the wicket deteriorated further and on several occasions the ball flared viciously on delivery.
Several New Zealand batsmen did not help their cause when they marched down the wicket at several bowlers, clearly scuffing up the fragile surface.
New Zealand started the day 102 for two. Michael Papps was the first to go when Kallis trapped him in front on 59.
After lunch the pitch appeared to favour the batsmen and Styris, who started the day on 16, comfortably moved along with Craig McMillan. Most of their runs came off what proved to be fruitless bowling from left-arm spinner Paul Adams.
Eventually Pollock, armed with a new ball, was able to clean bowl Styris for 74. Two runs later all rounder Chris Cairns was gone for 28.
By late in the day the state of the pitch was causing concern for both bowlers and batsmen with dust rising and sometimes chunks of dirt flying.
McCullum with a four scored his first test 50 and bought New Zealand up to 300. On 57 he played across a good ball from Kallis and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher took a brilliant catch.
By the end of the day the pitch was having its revenge with balls refusing to bounce at all. – Sapa-AFP