A career-best performance by Kyle Mills saw South Africa in trouble on 266 for eight at close of play on the first day of the first Castle Lager Test against New Zealand at Supersport Park on Saturday.
Graeme Smith won the toss and decided to bat first on a pitch that appeared to offer something to the bowlers.
”We weren’t quite sure what to expect, playing so late in the season,” said Boeta Dippenaar after the day’s play. ”We thought that both teams would have a tough innings, either batting first or batting last. We think the wicket will get harder to play on as the game goes on.
”It looked as if the wicket continued to offer something to the bowlers throughout the day, so that’s encouraging for us, as we’re going to bowl tomorrow.”
South Africa made some changes to the batting order, with Herschelle Gibbs opening with Smith and AB de Villiers moving down to six.
Gibbs went out early when he played on to a delivery from Kyle Mills in the sixth over of the day. Graeme Smith and Dippenaar put on 79 runs for the second wicket before Smith was given out leg before wicket to James Franklin for 45 shortly after lunch.
Jacques Kallis, playing in his 100th Test — 99 for South Africa and one for the World XI — faced just two balls before he called for medical assistance, apparently after jarring his troublesome elbow. He was given a painkilling injection on the field, and continued with his innings.
Dippenaar reached his seventh Test half century off 95 balls, including 10 balls, with a magnificent straight drive to the boundary off Mills, but the very next ball Dippenaar tried to hook the ball, which went straight to Peter Fulton at square leg.
”It was very frustrating going out at that point,” said Dippenaar. ”I’ve worked very hard to get back into the Test team, and I’d worked hard to get myself into a position where I could kick on, so it was disappointing, especially as I was set.
”The slowness of the wicket makes it hard to play the horizontal shots. You have to wait for the ball, and try to control it, which makes it difficult to get it over the fielders.”
He said he was pleased to be batting at number three. ”I’ve played 90% of my first class cricket at number three, and I would like to make that position my own,” said Dippenaar. ”I feel comfortable there, and I enjoy it.”
Ashwell Prince lasted 35 minutes before he was caught by Scott Styris off Mills for nine. South Africa went to tea on 153 for four, but things really fell apart after tea, with another four wickets falling for the addition of 113 runs.
Kallis and de Villiers put on 47 runs together before Kallis fell to an inswinging yorker from James Franklin for 38, immediately after he had played a magnificent square drive to the boundary. De Villiers was next to go, bowled by Franklin for 27,
and South Africa were reeling on 229 for seven.
Shaun Pollock — also playing in his 100th Test — and Mark Boucher, playing in his 92nd — raised South African hopes with a bright partnership of 33, but with the introduction of the new ball, more South African wickets fell. Boucher was brilliantly
caught in the slips by Stephen Fleming off Martin.
It was Fleming’s 150th Test catch in his 100th match. Immediately after taking Boucher’s wicket, Martin dislocated his thumb when he tried to stop a ball that had been smartly driven by Nicky Boje. The team physiotherapist manipulated his thumb back into position, and Martin continued bowling.
Pollock went out in the next over, caught by Styris off Mills for 24, giving Mills his first four wicket haul. Boje was not out on 20 at close of play, and Dale Steyn, brought in to replace Andre Nel, who has a shoulder injury, had eight.
Mills, who was brought into the team to replace Shane Bond, who was ruled out of action because of a knee injury, was very pleased with his performance. ”It’s happened before that I’ve replaced Bond and done well. I feel for him, but I was pleased with the way I played today.”
He said he thought the Black Caps’s success on the first day was the result of all the bowlers playing as a unit. ”We were happy with the way we played today. It was quite hot out there, and the altitude got to some of the players, but things went according to our game plans. The South Africans kept getting a start, but we kept at it, and they lost wickets.”
Dippenaar said the mood in the South African dressing room was still positive. ”We would have liked to have been six wickets down instead of eight, so that we could kick on to 330 or 350, and losing too many wickets will make us work harder tomorrow.” – Sapa