Cricket: NZ crawl to 144-3 at lunch v South Africa

12.45pm

New Zealand's batsmen made pedestrian progress early on the third day of the first cricket test as a deteriorating pitch became the main focus here today.

South Africa's bowlers tied down the hosts, who added just 42 runs in 27 overs for the loss of one wicket in the morning session.

At lunch New Zealand were 144 for three in reply to South Africa's first innings of 459, still 116 short of avoiding the follow on, with Scott Styris unbeaten on 38 and Craig McMillan on eight.

New Zealand's only wicket to fall was that of debut opener Michael Papps, who was trapped leg before wicket by Jacques Kallis for 59 in the day's 12th over.

Papps batted 210 minutes, faced 155 balls and hit 11 fours.

Umpire Russell Tiffin kept a constant watch on the damaged northern end of the pitch which was the subject of some controversy before play but didn't cause big problems for the batsmen.

Match referee Clive Lloyd told groundsman Karl Johnson to remove the cement he had placed in a small crater on a good length just outside off stump for left-handed batsmen.

Johnson was apparently asked by match officials to repair the area last night but it was unclear who made the request.

South Africa management were seen taking photographs of the area of the pitch and, after Lloyd inspected it, he decided the repair job was excessive.

The condition of the pitch came under scrutiny yesterday when South Africa paceman Andre Nel was given an official warning by Tiffin for running on the pitch and scuffing it up.

Nel bowled six overs today for seven runs without further incident.

Scorereboard at lunch:

South Africa

First innings 459

New Zealand

First innings (102-2 overnight)

M Richardson lbw b Pollock 4

M Papps lbw b Kallis 59

S Fleming lbw b Adams 27

S Styris not out 38

C McMillan not out 8

Extras (3lb, 5nb) 8

Total (for 3 wkts, 65 overs) 144

Fall: 20 (Richardson), 75 (Fleming), 127 (Papps).

Bowling: S Pollock 15-4-33-1 (4nb), M Ntini 13-7-20-0, J Kallis 14-6-34-1, A Nel 13-5-34-0 (1nb), P Adams 10-4-20-1.

- NZPA