Cricket: Dynamic Chris Martin to the rescue again

By RICHARD BOOCK

New Zealand's international summer may be coming to a close but born-again pace bowler Chris Martin looks anything but finished.

Only days after the recalled fast bowler made boerewors of the South African batting line-up at Auckland, he was at it again at the Basin Reserve, where his five-wicket bag rescued New Zealand's hopes in the third test.

Swinging into action yesterday morning with the second new ball, the 29-year-old right-armer played a decisive role in dismissing South Africa for 316 and restricting New Zealand's first innings deficit to a manageable 19 runs.

His three quick wickets - Martin van Jaarsveld, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher - left him with innings figures of five for 55, and followed on from his barnstorming form at Eden Park, where he took six for 76 in the first innings and five for 104 in the second.

It is believed the only other New Zealander to have taken five wickets in three consecutive test innings is Richard Hadlee, who made a habit of scything through the Australians, particularly in 1985 and 1987.

Hadlee, who took 14 of his 36 five-wicket bags against Australia, followed up his famous nine for 52 at Brisbane in 1985 with six for 71 in the second innings, and then headed to the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he snared five for 65.

Hadlee repeated the feat two years later when he took five for 68 in the second innings of the second test at Adelaide, and then captured five for 109 and five for 67 in the third rubber of the series at Melbourne.

To make things even sweeter yesterday, Martin's dismissal of Boucher was his 50th in tests and his 51st first-class wicket of the summer.

Martin began his spell with two wickets under his belt and quickly picked up the key scalp of Jaarsveld, who carved a regulation catch to Jacob Oram at gully.

Four overs later he was in the thick of it again, nicking out the in-form Kallis, then tempting Boucher to chase a wide half-volley.

The South Africans eventually eked out a lead, courtesy of a 34-run eighth-wicket stand between Jacques Rudolph and Nicky Boje, before Chris Cairns returned to take three wickets and mop up the tail.

Rudolph was also continuing a rich vein of form, with 72 in the first test at Hamilton and a magnificent 154 in a losing cause at Eden Park.

Five-wicket bags

New Zealanders to have taken five-wicket bags in three consecutive innings:

RICHARD HADLEE: Nine for 52 and six for 71 v Australia at Brisbane; five for 65 v Australia, Sydney, 1985.

RICHARD HADLEE: Five for 68 v Australia at Adelaide; five for 109 and five for 76 v Australia at Melbourne, 1987.

CHRIS MARTIN: Six for 76 and five for 104 v South Africa at Auckland; five for 55 v South Africa at Wellington, 2004.