/ 3 November 2007

New Zealand on the back foot

On a day on which 18 wickets fell, Friedel de Wet claimed his tenth five wicket haul with figures of six for 50 to give South Africa A a commanding lead of 271 at the end of the second day of their four-day match against New Zealand at Sedgars Park on Friday.

Resuming on their overnight score of 350 for four, South Africa A added just 93 runs in the morning session, before they were all out for 443 in the first over after lunch.

Neil McKenzie, who was 156 not out overnight, went back into his shell on the second morning, and added just 15 runs in nearly two hours before he was caught behind by Brendon McCullum off Jacob Oram for 182.

He and Morne van Wyk put on 69 for the fifth wicket.

Vettori claimed three of the wickets to fall on the second day, accounting for Van Wyk (34), Rory Kleinveldt (28) and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who were all given out leg before wicket.

Thandi Tshabalala was bowled by Chris Martin for six, and Charl Langeveldt was caught by Vettori off Oram for nine. De Wet was not out on two.

New Zealand were in trouble right from the start, with Michael Papps bowled by Langeveldt in the fourth over.

His departure triggered a New Zealand procession, with only Vettori and Ross Taylor managing to establish a partnership of any value. They put on 69 for the seventh wicket, with Taylor contributing 36, including seven fours, before he was caught and bowled by De Wet.

De Wet’s first victim was Craig Cumming, who was caught by Goolam Bodi for 11. He bowled Scott Styris for 10, got Shane Bond leg before for two, and two balls later, bowled Iain O’Brien for a duck.

His final victim was Vettori, who had been going like a train. Vettori, who reached his 22nd half century at nearly a run a ball, hit some glorious shots, but lashed out once too often and was caught by Tsotsobe for 83, to give De Wet his sixth wicket, and New Zealand were all out for 192 – 251 runs behind South Africa A.

Tsotsobe claimed three wickets for 66 runs, dismissing Lou Vincent, caught at third slip by Alviro Petersen for 21, McCullum, Oram, bowled for two, and McCullum, caught in the slips by Boeta Dippenaar for eight.

Chris Martin struck back in the second over, when Alviro Petersen was caught at third slip by Michael Papps without scoring. Goolam Bodi was out soon afterwards, caught by Ross Taylor off Martin for five.

At close of play. South Africa A had 20 for two. McKenzie was not out on five and Tshabalala had three. – Sapa