Cricket: Styris falls for record score just before lunch

12.55pm

Scott Styris scored the highest innings by a New Zealand batsman against South Africa to help the hosts move into the box seat in the second cricket test today.

Styris was dismissed for 170 by left-arm spinner Nicky Boje 10 minutes before lunch on the third day at Eden Park, as New Zealand moved to 286-4 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 296.

Craig McMillan was unbeaten on 61 at the break after he and Styris added 148 in 158 minutes for the fourth wicket.

Brendon McCullum was at the other end on one, having been promoted up the order.

The Black Caps added 85 runs for the loss of one wicket in the 29-over first session as South Africa's bowlers struggled for assistance from the pitch with the old ball.

Styris, who was unbeaten on 118 overnight, passed his previous highest test score of 119, rumbled on to 150 off 191 balls and passed Mathew Sinclair's New Zealand record score against South Africa of 150, scored in Port Elizabeth in 2000-01.

He looked well set for 200 until, with New Zealand 11 runs short of South Africa's total, Boje turned one away and it caught the edge for Shaun Pollock to hold a low catch at first slip.

Styris batted 312 minutes, faced 220 balls and hit 24 fours and two sixes.

McMillan resumed on 31 and cruised to his 19th test half-century off 93 balls.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA

First innings 296

NEW ZEALAND

First innings (201-3 overnight)

M Richardson c Gibbs b Kallis 45

M Papps c Boje b Pollock 0

S Fleming c Kallis b Ntini 4

S Styris c Pollock b Boje 170

C McMillan not out 61

B McCullum not out 1

Extras (1lb, 4nb) 5

Total (for 4 wkts, 83 overs) 286

Fall: 5 (Papps), 12 (Fleming), 137 (Richardson), 285 (Styris).

Bowling: S Pollock 20-5-45-1, M Ntini 21-4-63-1 (4nb), D Terbrugge 16-4-65-0, J Kallis 15-1-68-1, N Boje 9-1-36-1, N McKenzie 2-0-8-0.

- NZPA