South Africa's pace attack humiliated New Zealand's middle order in an extraordinary display Thursday that put the Proteas firmly in control on the first day of the second Test. Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn ran rampant as New Zealand lost eight wickets in the final session - including five in 20-ball spell when the shell-shocked home side did not score a single run - to be all out for 185.
Philander finished with figures of four for 70 and Steyn took three for 49, as skipper Graeme Smith's decision to send New Zealand in to bat on a green-tinged wicket in Hamilton paid off spectacularly. While New Zealand claimed consolation wickets as South Africa went to stumps at 27 for two, the Proteas succeeded in asserting their dominance after the first Test in Dunedin ended in a rain-affected draw. More rain and a a stubborn 89-run partnership between Brendon McCullum and New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor frustrated the Proteas for much of the day in Hamilton and Smith may have been having second thoughts about bowling first.
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Scoreboard New Zealand 1st innings
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R. Nicol c Boucher b Philander 2
M. Guptill b Steyn 22
B. McCullum c Rudolph b Steyn 61
R. Taylor c Smith b Philander 44
K. Williamson c Smith b Steyn 0
D. Vettori b Philander 0
K. van Wyk lbw Morkel 21
D. Bracewell c Boucher b Philander 0
M. Gillespie c Petersen b Tahir 27
B. Arnel lbw Tahir 3
C. Martin not out 0
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Extras: (lb3, nb2) 5
Total: (all out; 61.2 overs) 185
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Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-44, 3-133, 4-133, 5-133, 6-133, 7-133, 8-176, 9-184, 10-185
Bowling: Steyn 18-5-49-3, Philander 15-3-70-4, Kallis 9-4-9-0, Morkel 14-2-42-1, Tahir 5.2-1-12-2
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South Africa 1st innings
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G. Smith c van Wyk b Martin 13
A. Petersen not out 8
D. Steyn c van Wyk b Martin 4
H. Amla not out 2
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Total: (2 wkts; 11 overs) 27
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Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-18
Bowling: Martin 5-2-18-2, Bracewell 4-1-7-0, Gillespie 1-0-1-0, Vettori 1-0-1-0
Toss: South Africa
Series: The three-match series is level after a draw in the first Test
Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).