NZ lose by 85 runs in Tour game

It was not the ideal start for New Zealand in their tour of South Africa with defeat by 85 runs to the home sides ‘A’ team. It was far from perfect preparation for John Bracewell and his squad ahead of the opening Test against the full national side which gets underway on November 8.

If New Zealand were to gain an unlikely victory on the final day of this intriguing tour match, then much would depend on the overnight partnership of Ross Taylor (who begun the day on 79*) and Daniel Vettori.

When Taylor fell in the fifth over of the day, after adding only seven runs to his score, the writing was well and truly on the wall. Boeta Dippenaar took a sharp catch in gully off the bowling of Friedel de Wet to send the Kiwi dangerman back to the pavillion much earlier than New Zealand would have hoped.

Shane Bond displayed some stubborn resistance in an attempt to forge a partnership with his skipper Vettori to take the visitors much closer to their set target.

However, it was a lot to ask of Vettori, despite his recent good form with the bat (already he has made scores of 99 and 83 in this tour), and when Bond and Iain O’Brien both fell for six, New Zealand were on the brink of a confidence sapping defeat.

It was the occasional slow left-arm of Indian-born Gulam Bodi that ended Vettori’s resistance when he bowled the spinner for 30.

New Zealand must improve in the batting department before they take on a South African team that is brimming with confidence gained through an impressive series victory in Pakistan.

South Africa 443 & 106

New Zealand 192 & 272
Ross Taylor 86, Brendon McCullum 77, Freidel de Wet 3-76, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 3-53

South Africa won by 85 runs

Cricket Web Man of the Match : N.McKenzie (182 & 34)