South Africa v New Zealand - Third Test

Newlands, Cape Town

South Africa: BA Richards, EJ Barlow, *WJ Cronje, RG Pollock, DJ Cullinan, JN Rhodes, +DT Lindsay, MJ Procter, NBF Mann, AA Donald, NAT Adcock.
New Zealand: GM Turner, B Sutcliffe, GP Howarth, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, +AC Parore, RJ Hadlee, DN Patel, BR Taylor, SL Boock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: BC Cooray (SL) & LH Barker (WI)
Toss: South Africa

With the series already lost, New Zealand would be fighting for pride alone in Cape Town, and when skipper John Reid uprooted Graeme Pollock's middle stump with a beautiful outswinger shortly after tea on the first day, South Africa had been reduced to 210-6 and Reid's team had established a firm foothold in the game. The pitch at Newlands was favouring the batsmen at this stage now that a little early moisture had dried up, and one more wicket would have exposed South Africa's tail and given the tourists every chance of pressing home their advantage. However, by the afternoon session on day two, the Proteas' last four wickets had added 180 further runs to take the hosts close to 400 to snatch away all New Zealand's momentum and place the visitors firmly behind the eight ball once again.

Denis Lindsay led the late order onslaught, smashing nine fours and four sixes in his 84, then Donald and Adcock thoroughly enjoyed themselves in adding 44 for the last wicket, with Donald racking up a career high 41* in the process. Howarth and Crowe looked confident in reply for New Zealand after the early loss of both openers, but just as in the last Test a clatter of middle order wickets pulled the rug from under the Kiwis' feet, and at 120-5 the tourists' ship looked set to plunge beneath the surface once again.

If there was ever a time for a captain's innings it was now, and John Reid was not about to disappoint the smattering of New Zealanders in the crowd who had made the trip to Cape Town. Reid had bowled superbly in South Africa's innings, and with Richard Hadlee as a capable ally he oversaw the addition of a national record 134 runs for the seventh wicket as New Zealand defiantly clawed their way back into the game. Reid was dropped twice down the leg side by Lindsay early on the third day, firstly on 29 and then again on 45, and by the time Hadlee was bowled for 71 with the new ball by Donald, the scoreboard read 284-7 and the tourists were still hanging on to their hosts' coat tails.

Reid eventually perished for a fine 93 in the first over after tea on day three, and New Zealand's final total of 344 had got them to within fifty runs of the South Africans. Richards and Barlow re-established South Africa's momentum with a chanceless century opening stand though, and despite having already secured the series, Cronje would have undoubtedly been looking to declare at some stage on day four so that he could press for what would be a fifth consecutive Test victory. However, rain severely curtailed play on the fourth day, and although South Africa's batsmen continued to dominate proceedings, the lead was not extended enough to allow the declaration. Richards departed for 75 before Barlow completed his second hundred in two Tests since his recall, and Pollock rounded off his wonderful series with an undefeated 64 before Cronje - who had earlier registered his fourth consecutive single digit score - declared on South Africa's overnight total of 269-3.

New Zealand thus required 316 on the final day for a consolation victory, but more rain on the final morning and then again in the evening session put paid to any notions of a successful run chase. With mere survival the only option, the Kiwis had little trouble in staving off the South African bowlers in what was a disappointing finish to the series, Crowe's 83 the highlight as the tourists plodded their way to 194-4 by the time stumps, and the match, were drawn. South Africa's 2-0 series win moves them up to second place in the world rankings nonetheless, and the second half of the South African summer plays host to the West Indies in what should be a titanic battle for the number one spot in the ATG world.

1st & 2nd innings scorecards
(click to enlarge)

Scores
SAF 1st Inns 390 (Lindsay 84, Cullinan 55, Richards 43, Pollock 42, Donald 41*; Hadlee 4-108)
NZL 1st Inns 344 (Reid 93, Hadlee 71, Howarth 51, Crowe 44)
SAF 2nd Inns 269-3 dec. (Barlow 117, Richards 75, Pollock 64*)
NZL 2nd Inns 194-4 (Crowe 83, Turner 43)

MATCH DRAWN


Man of the Match: JR Reid