Cricket: NZ over-run by mighty Cullinen

By Richard Boock

Unless their plan was to restrict South Africa to something under 900 and pin their hopes on running out of time, the New Zealand cricketers might not be overjoyed with the present state of the first test match at Eden Park.

Already the tourists have amassed their highest test total since coming out of isolation and Daryll Cullinan has registered the third-highest individual score in South African test history, leaving New Zealand in a position where they can only attempt to rescue the match.

On top of that lot, Matthew Bell has been laid low by the return of his tropical bug and cannot open today, the Eden Park pitch is not without its own viral problems and the hotshot South African pacemen have had their feet up for two days.

By the time stumps were drawn last night - but not half as drawn as the New Zealand fieldsmen - South Africa had compiled their highest total in 35 years, their 562 for five wickets representing the largest score since they were readmitted to international cricket in 1991.

This was predominantly due to Cullinan's masterly 246 not out, the third-highest individual South African innings behind Graeme Pollock's 274 and Jackie McGlew's unbeaten 255, the latter scored against New Zealand at Wellington in 1952-53.

It was also the third-highest test score at Eden Park after Walter Hammond's 336 not out and Javed Miandad's 271, and as South Africa are apparently considering batting on this morning, his gallop through the record books might not be over yet.

It might well be that more than a thousand deliveries have been bowled and that two days have passed in this first Bank of New Zealand test, but New Zealand's fortunes are still hanging heavily on a decision made before the umpires even walked out to the middle.

And given that the decision to insert South Africa was Dion Nash's first official duty as New Zealand's test captain, it perhaps will not be a moment he remembers with any fondness either.

Coach Steve Rixon has already claimed the decision was based on a desire to attack, but the suspicion remains that New Zealand were also keen to prevent the South Africans from bowling first, and that the confidence in their batting line-up was less than it might have been.

There was a suggestion that the overhead conditions on the first morning could assist the New Zealand swing bowlers, which would have been fine if there had been any. As it was, Simon Doull struggled with the crosswind all day, Geoff Allott, despite rumours to the contrary, never threatened to move the ball in the air, and Nash concentrated on hitting the seam.

There was also a suggestion, however fatuous, that Chris Harris was actually a legspinner, and therefore New Zealand were well-equipped to bowl on a turning pitch. Harris is many things, parsimonious and demanding included, but if he bowls legspin, then so did Lance Cairns.

His exaggerated leg-cutters proved more than worthwhile in the context of this innings, however, with the number of South African batsmen who passed the 100-mark matched by the number of New Zealand bowlers.

Allott, who has conceded 18 fours in 33 overs, has cost 133 runs so far, while Daniel Vettori has given up 120 off 42 overs, while taking one wicket.
New Zealand already face making 362 to avoid the follow-on, and although Cronje might opt to bat on this morning, he might also have last year's third test at Trent Bridge in the back of his mind.

In that match, South Africa batted well into the third morning while posting 552 for five, but were unable to secure the final England wicket and the match was drawn.

PICTURED: Daryll Cullinan acknowledges the plaudits after completing his double-century.
PICTURE / FOTOPRESS