The Hindu : South Africa in strong position

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

South Africa in strong position

Jacques Rudolph ducks a Chris Cairns bouncer. — AP

New Zealand 297

South Africa 237 for 3

WELLINGTON, MARCH 27. Herschelle Gibbs made an eventful 77 and Jacques Rudolph 60 not out as South Africa played itself into a strong position on the second day of the third cricket Test against New Zealand here on Saturday.

Contributions of 48 from Martin van Jaarsveld, who was unbeaten at stumps, and 47 from captain Graeme Smith carried South Africa to 237 for three in reply to New Zealand's first innings score of 297 at the Basin Reserve.

Gibbs rode his luck on his way to his 16th half century in Tests but his 2-1/2 hour innings, which was decorated with 12 boundaries, pushed South Africa steadily towards first-innings superiority.

He shared a 103-run first-wicket partnership with Smith which gave the Proteas a platform to attack New Zealand's score, and provided much of the incident on a day on which only seven wickets fell and 286 runs were scored.

Gibbs survived two clear chances before outliving his luck and falling when South Africa was 130 for two. He showed longevity when he survived a confident appeal for caught behind off Daniel Vettori at 46 and was dropped by Stephen Fleming off Vettori when he was 61.

Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva rejected New Zealand's caught behind appeal in the 20th over but television replays showed the ball travelled to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum from a thick top edge.

Fleming leaped high at mid-on and got two hands to Gibbs' lofted drive from Vettori in the 28th over but he was unable to hold a stinging catch.

Martinv struck twice within four overs of tea to remove Gibbs and Gary Kirsten and slant the match briefly in New Zealand's favour. South Africa was then 136 for three, trailing New Zealand by 161 runs and the match might have tipped substantially towards New Zealand. But Rudolph and van Jaarsveld stayed together in a partnership which occupied all of the last session and which produced 101 runs by stumps. — AP

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