The Hindu : Nine-wicket win for New Zealand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Nine-wicket win for New Zealand

South Africa 296 & 349
New Zealand 595 & 53 for one

AUCKLAND, MARCH 22. Chris Cairns placed himself among cricket's finest all-rounders on Monday when he helped New Zealand to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in the second Test at Eden Park.

Cairns, 33 and playing only his third Test in two years due to a series of injuries, became the sixth player in Test history to take 200 wickets and score 3,000 runs as New Zealand beat South Africa in a home Test for the first time.

The win was New Zealand's fourth over South Africa in all Tests and gave it a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series heading into the final match that starts at Wellington on Friday.

Cairns contributed 158 to New Zealand's 299-run first innings lead, then took three wickets on Monday as South Africa was dismissed for 349 in its second innings.

Only Jacques Rudolph, who came to the wicket when the innings was one ball old and batted more than 7-1/2 hours to be 151 not out, stood against New Zealand's rush to victory.

New Zealand was left needing only 51 runs to victory and achieved that target from 10.2 overs as captain Stephen Fleming battered 31 runs from 11 balls. He hit four consecutive fours off Makhaya Ntini, six fours overall and took New Zealand to victory with a majestic six off Nicky Boje.

``It was a great Test match,'' Fleming said. ``There were 4-1/2 days of attrition but we survived that and came out on the other side. To play well here and get our first Test win over South Africa in New Zealand is great for the team."

``We spent a bit of time behind the game, especially on the first day, but we hung tough, got a bit of a break on the second morning and managed to get back in front of the game again.''

Although Cairns' 158 in New Zealand's first innings of 595 carried him past 3,000 Test runs and his haul of three for 63 on Monday took him past 200 wickets, he was overlooked as man of the match.

Martin, the hero

That honour went to recalled fast bowler Chris Martin who, in his first Test in two years, took six for 76 in the first innings and five for 104 in the second. The tall, almost frail right-armer was only the third New Zealander to take six wickets in an innings against South Africa.

``I've surpassed my own expectations for the game and as a team we've surpassed our expectations,'' Martin said. ``Hopefully I'm going to enjoy this rich vein of form for a while.

``It's taken me two years in the gym to put on any weight. I'm not a big chap still but it's helped me bowl longer and quicker spells.''

Cairns' achievements gave him a spot on one of the most elite teams in cricket. When he dismissed Boje on Monday morning to claim his 200th wicket, he earned a place beside Sir Garfield Sobers of the West Indies, Kapil Dev of India, Imran Khan of Pakistan, Ian Botham of England and New Zealand's Sir Richard Hadlee in the 200/3,000 club. He went on to claim two more wickets, those of Makhaya Ntini and David Terbrugge, to end South Africa's innings and to leave New Zealand an easy chase for victory.

New Zealand lost opener Mark Richardson before its winning total was posted but Michael Papps and Fleming saw it home without further incident.

The win followed New Zealand's 5-1 victory over South Africa in a six-match limited-overs series and left the tourists bewildered ahead of the final match at Wellington.

``We're very disappointed,'' said captain Graeme Smith. ``It all went wrong on the second morning when Chris Martin bowled particularly well and put us on the back foot and we never came back from there."

``There were some key performances from them in pressure situations so all credit to them. We have no excuses and we've got to regroup now and come back in the next Test match.'' — AP

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