Cricket: Oram, Vettori spare NZ blushes

Black Cap Jacob Oram celebrates his century on the second day of their first test cricket match against South Africa in Pretoria. Picture / Reuters

CENTURION - Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori have spared New Zealand's blushes on the second day of the opening test against South Africa, following another spectacular top-order collapse.

The two all rounders shared in a face-saving 183-run partnership for the seventh wicket, breathing life back into New Zealand innings that was at one stage 45 for five and, after a brief flurry from Brendon McCullum, 89 for six.

On a red-letter day for the pair, Oram countered with his third test century and Vettori lent critical support with 81, having already scored the 56 needed to gain admittance to the 2000-run 200 wicket club.

Given the carnage during the first dozen overs of the innings, the day could hardly have ended on a better note for the tourists, who – in reply to South Africa's 276 – were all out for 327, including a handy lead of 51.

South Africa faced one over before stumps without mishap and will resume this evening (New Zealand time) on four without loss.

However, the hero of the day was undoubtedly Oram, who was the last New Zealander out for a career-best 133, a remarkable effort for a man who played his previous test in November, 2004 at Adelaide, and has since been battling a frustrating series of injuries.

The 27-year-old left-hander had previously scored defiant centuries at Brisbane in 2004-05 and at Hamilton against South Africa in 2003-04, and yesterday's effort was more of the same, an innings dripping with application and responsibility.

Having survived the initial examination from a buoyant South African attack, Oram was able to collect his first 50 off 85 balls as he attempted to repair the innings, and brought up his century in the last session, by which time the deficit had been reduced to four.

His 285-minute contribution lasted 169 balls and included 18 boundaries and two mightly sixes, as well as two missed chances.

Vettori was just as effective in his own idiosyncratic style, taking 80 balls over his half century, and showing no sign of emotion or celebration when he achieved the double, a feat he now shares with just 11 other test players.

He eventually fell for 81 after miscuing an attempted pull off Makhaya Ntini, but could at least depart safe in the knowledge that New Zealand were right back in the game, and about to forge a useful advantage.

For all that, the concerns over the top order are set to remain the talking point of the New Zealand performance, and particularly Marshall's trial in the opening position; a hotly debated topic for the past six weeks.

A guinea-pig of sorts after being promoted to open against the West Indies last month, Marshall was the first New Zealander to go last night when he was comprehensively bowled by South African paceman Ntini for 6.

However, the 27-year-old right hander didn't have to wait long for some company in the dressing room after New Zealand's batting plans disintegrated in the space of a dozen overs; the first five batsmen departing for a feeble 45.

Stephen Fleming was the victim of another appalling decision from Daryl Harper, who adjudged the New Zealand skipper caught and bowled despite no contact between bat and ball, after which Scott Styris, Peter Fulton, and Nathan Astle all fell before lunch.

On a SuperSport Park pitch that was horribly inconsistent and getting worse by the hour, the New Zealand top order seemed helpless against new ball bowlers Ntini, who ended the day with five wickets, and rookie paceman Dale Steyn.

Styris speared a rearing delivery to gully, Fulton, after being hit on the helmet by the same bowler, succumbed to Shaun Pollock, and Astle was undone by a gem of an outswinger from Steyn just before the break.

Since being plucked out of the No.3 spot to be used in the opening experiment, Marshall has sewn together scores of 11, 1, 3, 23 not and six, for a disappointing average of 11.00.

His career now falls comfortably into two categories - the nine innings leading up to his 160 against Sri Lanka last season, during which time he scored 538 runs at 67.25 - and the nine innings since; 89 runs at 11.12.