Oram stars for New Zealand

The South African bowlers endured a frustrating day's play as they were made to toil in attempting to dislodge the final four wickets of the New Zealand first innings. A 113-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori saw their team to a position of safety and competitiveness.

Oram was certainly the star of the day as he scored an unbeaten Test hundred, the first of his career, to bolster the New Zealand innings to an eventual 509 all out. Vettori continued to display his all-round skills by notching another Test fifty, before he was eventually dismissed for 53. He then gave way to Paul Wiseman, who managed to get amongst the runs as well, with 36 of a 87-run partnership with Oram.

The left-handed allrounder spent a minute over five hours at the crease and faced up to 216 balls, hitting nineteen fours in his stance. He reached his century from 192 balls, before accelerating to his eventual 119 not out.

Shaun Pollock (4/98) and Jacques Kallis (3/71) shared the major success for the tourists, with Paul Adams (2/118) and Makhaya Ntini (1/74) chipping in also.

Facing a first innings deficit of 50 runs, South Africa plunged into early difficulty at 16/2. Graeme Smith was caught behind off Tuffey (1/14) for 5 and then Cairns (1/22) bowled first innings half-centurion, Jacques Rudolph, without scoring.

This was cause for Gibbs and Kallis to rebuild, which they did admirably, putting on 92 runs before the former was caught behind off left-arm spinner Wiseman. Jacques Kallis remained unbeaten at stumps on 56 and in pursuit of his fifth hundred in as many matches. Kallis missed the notable achievement by 8 runs in his first innings effort. With him is Neil McKenzie on 11, and South Africa enter the final day of the match with a lead of 84 runs.

Match Summary:

South Africa 1st innings 459 ao (139.2 overs)
(G Kirsten 137, JH Kallis 92, JA Rudolph 72)
(DL Vettori 4/158, SB Styris 2/46, JDP Oram 2/76)

New Zealand 1st innings 509 ao (164.4 overs)
(JDP Oram 119 not out, SB Styris 79, MHW Papps 59, BB McCullum 57, DL Vettori 53)
(SM Pollock 4/98, JH Kallis 3/71, PR Adams 2/118)

South Africa 2nd innings 134/3 (52 overs)
(JH Kallis 56 not out, HH Gibbs 47)
(DR Tuffey/CL Cairns/PJ Wiseman 1 each)

Posted by Liam