November 04, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 22, 1428

POTCHEFSTROOM (South Africa), Nov 3: New Zealand’s top order batting failed again as the tourists struggled on the second day of the four-day match against South Africa ‘A’ at Sedgars Park on Thursday.

Replying to the home side’s imposing 443, the Black Caps crashed to 192 all out. Despite having a lead of 251, South Africa ‘A’ did not enforce the follow on. They were 20 for two at the close.

For the second successive match captain Daniel Vettori, batting at number eight, was his side’s top scorer. He made 83 off 74 balls before he was the last man out.

Fast bowler Friedel de Wet and left-arm swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe were mainly responsible for the New Zealanders’ collapse. De Wet took six for 50 and Tsotsobe three for 67.

The Black Caps face South Africa in the first of two Tests in Johannesburg on Thursday.

In three completed innings on tour, only one top order batsman – opener Craig Cumming in the second innings against an Invitation XI in Bloemfontein – has made a half-century. Vettori hit 99 in the first innings in his team’s 216-run win in the opening match.

Vettori came in when the New Zealanders were floundering at 62 for six. He and Ross Taylor (36) put on 59 for the seventh wicket. When Taylor was caught and bowled by de Wet, Vettori went on the attack to score 46 of the next 60 runs before he slashed a catch off de Wet to third man.

Earlier Vettori took three for 80 as he and medium-pacer Jacob Oram (three for 39) claimed five of the six wickets that fell as South Africa ‘A’, who resumed on 350 for four, were bowled out.

Former Test batsman Neil McKenzie took his overnight score of 156 to a career-best 182 before he was caught behind off Oram.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ (1st Innings, overnight 350-4):

A.N. Petersen c Papps b O’Brien 23

G.H. Bodi c Styris b Bond 20

N.D. McKenzie c McCullum b Oram 182

H.H. Dippenaar c Styris b Oram 99

J.P. Duminy c McCullum b Bond 12

M.N. van Wyk lbw b Vettori 34

R.K. Kleinveldt lbw b Vettori 28

T. Tshabalala b Martin 6

F. de Wet lbw b Vettori 2

C.K. Langeveldt c Vettori b Oram 9

L.L. Tsotsobe not out 0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-19, NB-5) 28

TOTAL (all out, 117.2 overs) 443

FALL OF WKTS: 1-39, 2-49, 3-273, 4-309), 5-378, 6-416, 7-432, 8-432, 9-443.

BOWLING: Bond 24-2-112-2 (2nb); Martin 22-3-99-1 (2nb); O’Brien 21-3-74-1 (1nb); Oram 20-6-39-3; Vettori 27.2-2-80-3; Styris 3-0-16-0.

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings):

C.D. Cumming c Bodi b de Wet 11

M.H.W. Papps b Langeveldt 1

L. Vincent c Petersen b Tsotsobe 21

S.B. Styris b de Wet 10

R.L. Taylor c and b de Wet 36

J.D.P. Oram b Tsotsobe 2

B.B. McCullum c Dippenaar b Tsotsobe 8

D.L. Vettori c Tsotsobe b de Wet 83

S.E. Bond lbw b de Wet 4

I.L. O’Brien b de Wet 0

C.S. Martin not out 4

EXTRAS (B-6, LB-2, NB-4) 12

TOTAL (all out, 44 overs) 192

FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-37, 3-37, 4-52, 5-55, 6-63, 7-132, 8-164, 9-164.

BOWLING: de Wet 16-3-50-6; Langeveldt 10-3-45-1 (1nb); Tsotsobe 14-2-67-3 (3nb); Tshabalala 4-0-22-0.

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ (2nd Innings):

G.H. Bodi c Taylor b Martin 5

A.N. Petersen c Papps b Martin 0

N.D. McKenzie not out 5

T. Tshabalala not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-5) 7

TOTAL (for two wkts, 7.1 overs) 20

FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-16.

BOWLING (to-date): Bond 4-1-18-0 (1w); Martin 3.1-3-0-2.—AFP