HAMILTON, New Zealand, 14 March 2004 — Jacob Oram hit his maiden Test century as New Zealand scored 509, a first innings lead of 50, before South Africa checked their progress on the fourth day of the first Test yesterday.
South Africa arrested the slide with a partnership of 92 between Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis and at close of play, with Gibbs out, they were 134 for three, a lead of 84. Kallis was unbeaten on 56 and Neil McKenzie on 11.
Oram finished unbeaten on 119 when New Zealand were all out early in the afternoon session in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 459. He reached his first Test hundred off 191 balls in 276 minutes and hit 16 fours.
South Africa were quickly in trouble in their second innings when they lost captain Graeme Smith, who waved at a ball from Daryl Tuffey and got a faint edge to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum for five.
One run later, left-hander Jacques Rudolph was bowled by Chris Cairns and Gibbs and Kallis came together with South Africa reeling at 16 for two.
The pair batted commendably as they attempted to wrest the initiative away from New Zealand on a pitch offering good turn and the awkward crumbling patch outside the right-handers’ leg stump.
Gibbs finally succumbed for 47 to the off-spin of Paul Wiseman, getting an edge through to McCullum, who juggled twice before securing the catch.
