KEY POINTS:
New Zealand got the flat pitch they were after but were made to suffer for it on the first day of the cricket tour match against South Africa A in Potchefstroom overnight.
The hosts compiled 350 for four, based around an unbeaten 156 from Neil McKenzie and 99 from another experienced test player, Boeta Dippenaar.
The pair put on 224 runs for the third wicket in benign conditions at Sedgars Park, with the New Zealand attack struggling to make an indent until Jacob Oram had Dippenaar caught at slip.
In their first warm-up game last week, the tourists crushed a South African Invitational 11 by 216 runs inside three days at Bloemfontein.
Captain Daniel Vettori pleaded for a superior wicket this week to give his players a better workout ahead of the test series against the Proteas.
His bowlers certainly got that and were made to toil for 90 overs - a rare day's slog for players so accustomed to limited overs cricket over the past year.
The attack maintained good discipline until the final hour when 32-year-old McKenzie took advantage of tiredness, the second new ball and a rock-hard outfield.
McKenzie caressed 24 boundaries in a chanceless 238-ball stint at the crease, a knock which the South African selectors will have taken careful note of.
Earlier paceman Bond forced opener Gulam Bodi (20) and young star JP Duminy (12) to edge away-swingers into the slips as he finished with two for 88 in 18 overs.
Oram, who dismissed Dippenaar as he tried to protect himself from a short-pitched delivery, kept a tight line and length and took one for 31 off 17 overs.
Left-armer Iain O'Brien, playing his first match for New Zealand for more than two years, removed opener Alviro Petersen for 23.
He was caught behind by Michael Papps, who was surprisingly keeping wicket instead of Brendon McCullum.
Chris Martin, who went wicketless, said the day was beneficial for New Zealand.
"It's exactly what we needed - a hard day's cricket against quality opposition," Martin told NZPA.
"The pitch was a little damp and sticky this morning and we thought we might be able to get amongst the wickets, but McKenzie played exceptionally well and he really took a toll on some tired and loose bowling in the final session."
Martin said the pitch had hardened and become a good batting wicket.
As expected, former captain Stephen Fleming did not play after dislocating his thumb during practice.
He is likely to be fit for the first of two tests against South Africa, starting in Johannesburg on Thursday next week.
- NZPA
