South Africa successfully avoided the follow-on after tea on the fourth day of the second Castle Lager Test at Newlands on Sunday, and a draw now looks a certainty. When bad light stopped play an hour-and-a-half after tea, South Africa had 427 for five, and still trailed New Zealand by 166.
South Africa were still in deep trouble on 155 for two when bad light stopped play early on the third day of the second Castle Lager Test at Newlands on Saturday. They need another 239 runs to avoid the follow-on. Test debutant Jeetan Patel will have reason to remember the third day of his first Test.
A record eighth-wicket partnership of 256 by Stephen Fleming and James Franklin — including a double century for Fleming — put New Zealand firmly in control of the second Castle Lager Test at Newlands. When the players left the field on the second day on Friday, New Zealand had 535 for eight.
Two late wickets by Makhaya Ntini gave South Africa a slight advantage when bad light stopped play 23 minutes early on the first day of the second Castle Lager Test against New Zealand at Newlands on Thursday. However, an undefeated 114 by Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming kept the visitors very much in the game.
Off-break spin bowler Jeetan Patel may make his Test debut for New Zealand in the second Castle Lager Test against South Africa, which starts at Newlands on Thursday. Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming hinted on Wednesday that New Zealand were considering playing two spin bowlers in the second Test, because he thought the pitch at Newlands might be spinner-friendly towards the end of the match.
Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn put in match-winning performances to wrap up the New Zealand innings on the fifth morning of the first Castle Lager Test at Supersport Park on Wednesday. The two pace bowlers needed just 33 minutes to bowl New Zealand out for 120 runs, to give South Africa victory by 128 runs.
Bad light stopped play just nine balls after tea on the fourth day of the first Castle Lager Test between South Africa and New Zealand at Supersport Park on Tuesday. This means the players have to return on Wednesday to wrap up what appears to be an inevitable defeat for New Zealand.
A superb 97 by AB de Villiers brought South Africa back into the game on the third day of the first Castle Lager Test against New Zealand at Supersport Park on Monday. At stumps, South Africa had 280 for nine, and an overall lead of 229 runs. South Africa had a disastrous start to their second innings, losing three wickets before they had wiped out their 51 run first innings deficit.
South African coach Mickey Arthur described the second day of the first Castle Lager Test against New Zealand at Supersport Park on Sunday as a mixed day, after South Africa had the visitors on the ropes on 89 for six, and then were unable to prevent them taking a first innings lead of 51.
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.