Boje Spins an Even Web
Saturday, March 27 2004
Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje took 3 crucial wickets to keep South Africa firmly in the hunt after an evenly contested day 1 against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
New Zealand made 2 enforced changed to their side for the match as they recalled batsman Mathew Sinclair just before play to replace an ill Craig McMillan and Michael Mason was offered his maiden Test cap for the injured Daryl Tuffey.
South Africa replaced an unfortunate Neil McKenzie with Martin van Jaarsveld and Andre Nel was offered his second match of the series ahead of David Terburgge. In perhaps his only success of the series Graeme Smith again called the toss correctly but surprisingly elected to bowl on a fairly true wicket.
Smith's decision paid near immediate dividends as Makhaya Ntini snared Michael Papps LBW early on in what can at best be described as a dubious decision. The impending dismissal of Mark Richardson in the following over to Jacques Kallis left the Black Caps teetering at 2/23 in the 14th over.
The untimely side strain suffered by Kallis shortly before the luncheon break weakened the attack - losing a key into the wind bowler - as Stephen Fleming and Mathew Sinclair set about the rescue mission.
The introduction of left arm finger spinner Nicky Boje, however, would have a profound effect on the day's proceedings as he claimed Fleming early in his spell for 30. A short time later in-from all-rounder Scott Styris' dismal stroke saw his castle disturbed as Boje turned the match ever so slightly towards the Proteas.
Sinclair soon found solace in rookie keeper-batsman Brendan McCullum as the pushed the score towards 200 with a 66-run stand. Yet a third Boje victim in Sinclair was trapped LBW when on 74 in a fairly straightforward decision.
Yet Chris Cairns - rumored to be playing his last Test match - joined McCullum at the crease and pushed the score to 248 on the brink of stumps.
Yet on the penultimate ball of the day Shaun Pollock trapped McCullum in front when on 55 to leave Cairns unbeaten on a quick-fire 60 at stumps.
Boje finished the day with 3/61 while Pollock, Ntini and Kallis each claimed a wicket to leave the match finely balanced after an absorbing opening day at the Basin.
Progress Score: Stumps Day 1
New Zealand 6/248 (M Sinclair 74, C Cairns 60*, B McCullum 55; N Boje 3/61)
Posted by Andre
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