A career-best 133 by Jacob Oram put New Zealand in a commanding position at close of play on the second day of the first Castle Lager Test at Supersport Park on Sunday, after South Africa had the visitors on the ropes on 89 for six.
New Zealand were all out for 327 shortly before stumps, for a first innings lead of 51.
New Zealand took just under half an hour to wrap up the South African first innings on 276, with Kyle Mills and James Franklin finishing with four wickets each.
At lunchtime, New Zealand were reeling on 74 for five, and South Africa appeared to be firmly in control of the match. Makhaya Ntini had ripped through the Black Caps’ top order, taking three wickets for 22 runs, while Shaun Pollock and Dale Steyn had chipped in with a wicket each.
Hamish Marshall was first to go, when he was beautifully bowled by Ntini for six in the third over of the innings.
Stephen Fleming — playing in his 100th Test — was desperately unlucky when umpire Daryl Harper gave him out, caught and bowled by Ntini, when the ball appeared to have come off his pads.
Scott Styris was Ntini’s third victim, when he spliced an awkward ball and Herschelle Gibbs took a diving catch to send Styris back for 17.
Shaun Pollock, bowling at first change, celebrated his 100th Test with a wicket in his first innings, when Mark Boucher took a very good catch to dismiss Peter Fulton for 14.
Boucher took another catch, off Steyn, to dismiss Nathan Astle for four, and the Black Caps were in tatters on 45 for five.
Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum put on 44 for the sixth wicket, before McCullum was caught by Nicky Boje off Jacques Kallis for 31 off 30 balls, including six fours.
His departure brought Daniel Vettori to the crease, and he and Oram tore into the South African attack.
Their partnership of 183 was the highest against South Africa at Supersport Park, and saw both players achieve significant milestones.
When he had reached 56, Vettori became only the 12th player to take 200 Test wickets and score 2 000 Test runs, and Oram reached his third Test century (and his second against South Africa).
It came up off 146 balls, and included 13 fours and a massive six.
Both left-handers appeared completely in control of the situation, and the South Africans were once again frustrated by being unable to wrap up the lower order batsmen.
It was Ntini who finally broke the partnership when Vettori skied a ball which was taken near the boundary by Ashwell Prince.
He had made 81 runs and had hit 11 fours. Ntini struck again in his next over, when he had Franklin caught behind by Mark Boucher for 8.
Kyle Mills looked as if he might also continue to frustrate the South Africans, but after lasting 42 minutes, and sharing a ninth wicket partnership of 42 with Oram, he was caught by Nicky Boje off Pollock for 12.
Oram, playing in his first Test for 18 months after a string of injuries, was caught by Pollock off Steyn for 133 — his highest Test score, and New Zealand were all out for 327.
Ntini took his 12th five-wicket haul, and was once again the pick of the South African bowlers, although Oram took 18 runs off one over by Ntini, Pollock was the most economical, but he bowled eight no balls.
Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs safely negotiated one over before stumps, and ended the day on four without loss — 47 runs behind New Zealand. – Sapa