New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was flattered but could not be tempted into agreeing that Monday’s historic nine-wicket over South Africa, the second-ranked team in the world, was the Black Caps’ most complete Test cricket win.
Fleming hit the winning runs to bring up his 20th win from 57 Tests and seal New Zealand’s first victory over South Africa at home since their rivalry began in 1931-32, and just their fourth in 29 Tests against the Proteas overall.
The outstanding list of achievements — Chris Martin’s man of the match 11-wicket haul, Scott Styris’ 170, Chris Cairns’ 158 and 200th Test wicket, plus big innings from Craig McMillan and Jacob Oram — moved veteran cricket writer DJ Cameron.
”It’s the best all-round performance I’ve seen by a New Zealand side winning a Test match, because there were so many top-quality performances.
”Everybody chipped in,” said Cameron, who has witnessed most of New Zealand’s 54 Test wins as correspondent for the New Zealand Herald.
But Fleming was not sure if he agreed.
”It is pretty big but I’m not sure where it fits, and I’m not sure if I want to rank it,” he said.
”Each time we do something special it has its own characteristics, certainly beating England (in 1999) was great. We haven’t done this at home against South Africa, that’s testament to the quality of team we’re playing and how good they’ve been for some time.
”To knock them over at home for the first time, it’s certainly very high.”
New Zealand’s greatest Test win is commonly regarded as the 1985 Test against Australia in Brisbane, where Sir Richard Hadlee’s haul of 15 for 123 and centuries from Martin Crowe and John F Reid led to an innings and 41-run win.
A towering six by Fleming won the home side the match. After compiling a 299-run lead on the first innings, New Zealand dismissed the Proteas for 349 in their second innings and were left with a mere 51-run target to win.
They achieved that with the loss of only Mark Richardson’s wicket, which brought Fleming to the crease and he was in no mood to delay the inevitable, blasting 31 runs from 11 balls.
Everything fell into place for New Zealand on the final day, as recalled fast bowler Chris Martin picked up his fifth wicket of the innings to have 11 for the match and Chris Cairns joined the elite club of cricketers to achieve 3 000 Test runs and 200 Test wickets.
His dismissal of Nicky Boje gave him entry as the sixth player to achieve the double, following Gary Sobers, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Richard Hadlee.
South Africa had started the Test boldly on the first day, reaching 177 before the first wicket fell, but the turning point came on the second morning as Martin exploited the cloud cover to move the ball and the tourists were all out for 296.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith was in no doubt that was where the game was lost.
”It’s very disappointing, it all went wrong for us on the second morning. Chris Martin bowled superbly and we never really recovered,” he said.
Martin was New Zealand’s star, taking five for 104 in the second innings for a match haul of 11 for 180, the eighth-best match analysis and just the 19th 10-wicket haul by a New Zealand bowler.
South African No 3 Jacques Rudolph was the only batsman to show any resistance on the final day and was left unbeaten on 154 as Martin and Cairns mopped up the tail.
Fleming said the win was more satisfying, given the strength of the opposition.
”It’s against a team that we respect so much. They’re a quality side,” he said. ”To play well here and get our first win at home is very exciting for the team.”
The win was Fleming’s 20th from 57 tests as captain, and gave New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand have now beaten South Africa four times in 29 Tests, with the effort here the first at home in 12 matches since 1931-32.
The next hurdle for New Zealand is a first series win when the third and final Test begins in Wellington on Friday. The first Test in Hamilton was drawn. – Sapa-AFP