South Africa draw series
Tuesday, March 30 2004
South Africa squared the series in the third and final test match today thanks to a determined Graeme Smith and yet another crucial knock from the departing Gary Kirsten.
Starting the day South Africa were 82/3 still requiring another 152 runs for victory which looked conformable enough but New Zealand knew that if they were to get some early wickets and get into the South African middle order it would be match on.
This was not to be the case though with Graeme Smith and Gary Kirsten picking the initial spells of Chris Martin and Jacob Oram off with ease. Stephen Fleming was then forced into a double change with Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori coming one but while they were economical they didn't look like striking and South Africa edged closer and closer to victory.
Scott Styris managed the only break through of the morning session in dismissing Gary Kirsten lbw for 76 in his final test. On walking from the field Gary Kirsten was cleared moved by the occasion as the New Zealand team and crowd stood to applaud what has been a fantastic test career.
South Africa went to lunch requiring another 27 runs for victory and they got it conformably in winning the test by six wickets and squaring the series one all.
Graeme Smith was named man of the match for his match winning knock of 125 not out while Jacob Oram picked up player of the summer for a good series' with bat and ball against Pakistan and South Africa
Score Summary
New Zealand 297 (M Sinclair 74, C Cairns 69, B McCullum 55; N Boje 4/65)
South Africa 316 (J Rudolph 93*, H Gibbs 77, M van Jaarsveld 59; C Martin 5/55, C Cairns 4/60)
New Zealand 252 (S Styris 73, C Cairns 41, J Oram 40; N Boje 4/69)
South Africa 234/4 (G Smith 125*, G Kirsten 76, C Martin 2/65, J Oram 1/23)
South Africa won by 6 wickets
Posted by James
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