/ 18 November 2007

SA secure invaluable lead

Mark Gillespie became the fifth New Zealand to take five wickets on debut as South Africa were bowled out for 383 in their first innings ten minutes before lunch on the third day of the second Castle Lager Test at Supersport Park on Sunday.

South Africa resumed play on their overnight score of 272 for three, but Ashwell Prince was caught by substitute Jeetan Petel in the third over of the morning, off Gillespie for 13.

Hashim Amla went to his third Test century — all of them against New Zealand — off 203 balls, but shortly after he was out to a soft dismissal, caught in the covers by Michael Papps for 103. His dismissal came off the first delivery with the new ball, and the shiny red ball did plenty of damage after that.

AB de Villiers played a lovely cameo innings until he hooked a Gillespie delivery and was brilliantly caught near the boundary by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum for 33, including six boundaries. Mark Boucher managed just one run before playing on to a Gillespie delivery, and Paul Harris was caught behind by McCullum without scoring to give Gillespie his fifth wicket.

The visitors celebrated, but the South African tail wagged merrily as Andre Nel and Dale Steyn put on 51 runs off 66 balls. Nel, who was out lbw to Daniel Vettori, made 25 off 30 balls, including one boundary and two massive sixes, while Steyn, who was caught by Papps off Iain O’Brien, made 25 off 40 balls, including two fours and a six.

South Africa have a first innings lead of 195. Jacques Kallis said on Saturday that a 200 run lead would be invaluable, as he thought the pitch would become more difficult to play on, on the fourth and fifth days of the Test. – Sapa