Cricket: Same old story as S Africa take grip

By Richard Boock

WELLINGTON - There might be something like 1700 deliveries still to be bowled in this test match, but New Zealand have already found themselves in a position of some familiarity: clinging on by their fingernails.

By the time stumps had been drawn on the second day of the final Bank of New Zealand test last night, South Africa had cruised through to 235 for two in the space of 75 overs, and look ready to establish a sizeable lead over the Kiwis' first-innings total of 222.

Herschelle Gibbs was relatively untroubled in posting his second test century about an hour before the close, combining with Darryl Cullinan to add 130 runs for the third wicket as the tourists made a major advance in their efforts to break the series deadlock.

New Zealand's drought at the bowling crease has not quite been broken yet, with the two wickets captured last night bringing South Africa's total loss this series to eight, at a cost of 1298 runs.

And the two wickets which did fall had not as much to do with batsmen being defeated by the bowlers as batsmen perishing by their own hand.

Gary Kirsten, who seemed to have been caught behind when he was on 11, played on to Shayne O'Connor 29 runs later, and Jacques Kallis miscued an attempted hook off Dion Nash down Matt Horne's throat at long-leg.

The rest of the day, however - not to mention the opening stanzas as well - belonged completely to the South Africans, with Cullinan and Gibbs scoring at virtually a run a ball, the partnership lasting 137 minutes and 231 balls.

Gibbs, whose last visit to the batting crease against New Zealand realised 211 runs, brought up his 50 in 152 minutes (eight fours) before going to his second test century in 259 minutes, off 192 balls (14 fours).

He received excellent support from Cullinan, who struck nine boundaries in his 16th test 50 (109 minutes).

New Zealand resumed yesterday morning at 211 for six with hopes of a total near 300 in the back of their minds, but instead found themselves bundled out within 65 minutes following a devastating spell of bowling from Shaun Pollock.

Their last four wickets fell in the space of 36 balls for a mere four runs as Pollock completed his ninth five-wicket bag in test cricket, taking four for three in the space of 20 balls.