Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn ripped through New Zealand’s top order on the fourth morning of the first Castle Lager Test at Supersport Park on Tuesday to put South Africa in a very strong position, with New Zealand reeling on 34-6 at lunch.
Working in tandem in chilly, overcast conditions, Ntini and Steyn at one stage reduced the Black Caps to 28-6. Ntini struck twice in his second over, with Peter Fulton caught behind by Boucher for four, and two balls later, Kyle Mills — sent in up the order — was caught by Boeta Dippenaar without scoring.
Dale Steyn weighed in next when Fleming — playing in his 100th Test — drove him straight to Jacques Kallis at first slip for six, and in his next over, he got the wicket of Scott Styris, who, playing well away from his body, guided the ball into Boucher’s gloves.
Nathan Astle was next to go, caught at third slip by AB De Villiers off Ntini for two. But the biggest cheer came when Jacob Oram, who made 133 in New Zealand’s first innings, was clean bowled by Ntini, also for two.
Hamish Marshall got a nasty blow to the ribs from Ntini and had to receive attention on the field, and Brendon McCullum also received a blow that hit him on the body. When the players went to lunch, Marshall was not out on 12, and McCullum had five. New Zealand still need 215 to win.
Earlier, Ntini and Steyn frustrated the Black Caps for 30 minutes when they added 19 runs to South Africa’s overnight score of 280-9. Ntini hit three unorthodox boundaries before Stephen Fleming introduced his trump card — spinner Daniel Vettori.
It took Vettori just one run to bamboozle Ntini and have him leg before wicket for 16. Steyn was undefeated on seven. — Sapa