AUCKLAND, 19 March 2004 — South Africa dominated the opening day’s play in the second Test against New Zealand yesterday, moving on to 231 for two wickets at the close after building on a strong opening partnership.
After being asked to bat by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, his counterpart Graeme Smith (88) and Herschelle Gibbs (80) put on 177 for the first wicket before both were dismissed either side of the tea interval.
The not out batsmen are Jacques Kallis (39), going for his sixth century in as many Tests, and Jacques Rudolph (14).
The pair came together as a result of the only bright spell of the day for New Zealand, when the home side captured two wickets in as many deliveries.
First to go was Gibbs, bowled Cairns with the final ball of the afternoon session, before Smith followed when he was trapped lbw by Chris Martin with the first delivery after the break.
Cairns moved to 199 Test victims with the wicket of Gibbs while Smith was left one run shy of 2,000 in just his 23rd match.
The South African captain admitted that it was a tough pitch to bat on despite his high score.
After tea, New Zealand bowled with more purpose but Kallis tempered their enthusiasm with a solid defense and punishing stroke-play.
By contrast, Rudolph struggled, taking 33 balls to get off the mark and his 14-run knock has taken 126 minutes and 87 balls to construct.
However, the left-hander has been an able ally to Kallis, who is bidding to equal Sir Donald Bradman’s record for the most successive Test centuries.
Their 50 partnership, though slow at 163 balls, was also invaluable in steadying the innings after the loss of two quick wickets.
New Zealand made one change from the side that drew the first Test of the three-match series, recalling the fast-medium bowler Martin for Paul Wiseman while South Africa replaced left-arm spinner Paul Adams with orthodox left-armer Nicky Boje.
Paceman David Terbrugge also came in for Andre Nel.
The three-match series is tied at 0-0 after the sides battled out a draw in Hamilton last week.
