A classic captain’s knock of 125 not out by Graeme Smith and a crucial 76 from Gary Kirsten in his Test farewell led South Africa to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the third and final Test to square the series here Tuesday.
The convincing victory shattered New Zealand’s dream of a first ever series win over South Africa.
Set a target of 234 to win, South Africa were led from the front by Smith who put the frustrations of an arduous tour behind him as he brought up his seventh Test century.
He was joined by Kirsten with South Africa in trouble at 36 for three, and together they worked over the New Zealand bowling attack in a 171-run fourth wicket partnership which ended with the dismissal of Kirsten just on lunch, but at 207 for four the result was then a formality.
In his 101st and final Test, the veteran Kirsten was at his majestic best, reaching 76 in nearly four hours at the crease to end his career with a prolific 7 289 Test runs at an average of 45,27.
Not known as an emotional player, Kirsten kissed his helmet before walking off in tears through a guard of honour of his teammates.
It had been a difficult tour for South Africa, losing the one-day series 5-1 and complaining of tiredness from 16 months on the road after losing the second Test in Auckland by nine wickets.
But the motivation of not wanting to be the first South African captain to lose a series to New Zealand drove Smith on and he appropriately brought up the winning runs, driving New Zealand’s trump bowler Chris Martin to the deep.
When the final day began, both sides had an equal chance of victory with South Africa requiring 152 runs and New Zealand after seven wickets.
But conditions were ideal for batting with little breeze and a pitch that offered little to the bowlers.
Smith and Kirsten were not to be hurried and refused to take risks in a partnership of intense application.
They neutralised the threat of New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori who went wicketless, in sharp contrast to Nicky Boje whose leg spin took four wickets in each innings for South Africa.
Kirsten brought up his 34th half-century in 187 minutes and looked comfortable until the penultimate ball before lunch when he was given out leg before wicket to Scott Styris in the only wicket to fall.
Martin van Jaarsveld joined Smith and was 13 not out when Smith hit the winning runs.
New Zealand were left to ponder what might have been after the batting top order failed to fire in both innings, and the bowlers could not find a way through a determined South African side driven by pride.
”We’ve got to become more consistant,” was how New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming summed up his side’s performance. – Sapa-AFP