November 05, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 23, 1428

POTCHEFSTROOM (South Africa), Nov 4: The touring New Zealanders slumped to an 85-run defeat on Sunday in their final warm-up match before facing South Africa in two Tests.

They went down to South Africa ‘A’ on the final day of a four-day match at Sedgars Park.

The Black Caps’ fate was effectively sealed when Ross Taylor was out for 86 in the fifth over of the day, caught at gully by South Africa ‘A’ captain Boeta Dippenaar off fast bowler Friedel de Wet.

Taylor and captain Daniel Vettori resumed with their side on 230 for six, needing another 128 to win.

With Taylor gone after a 124-ball innings, which included 14 fours and a six, it was a matter of time for the bowlers to work their way through the tail.

De Wet, who took six for 50 in the first innings, followed up with three second innings wickets for match figures of nine for 126.

The New Zealanders go into the first Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg with a win and a loss in their two first-class matches.

Of most concern will be the form of their top-order batsmen, with only opener Craig Cumming, Taylor and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum having made half-centuries.

Skipper Vettori, who was last out for 30 Sunday, hit two half-centuries as a lower order batsman.

On Saturday, the tourists crashed to 67 for five before Taylor (79 not out) and McCullum (77) put on 139 for the sixth wicket.

The stand was ended when McCullum missed a pull shot against de Wet and was bowled by a ball which kept low. He made his runs off 101 balls with 13 fours.

Taylor, 23, who is set to make his Test debut in Johannesburg, batted through until the close.

Left-arm swing bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe took three wickets in four overs as the New Zealanders lost five wickets between lunch and tea. He had figures of three for 40.

Earlier all-rounder Jacob Oram took five for 16 as the South African second string, who did not enforce the follow-on despite leading by 251, collapsed to 106 all out in their second innings.

First innings century-maker Neil McKenzie top-scored with 34.Opening bowler Chris Martin started the collapse by taking the first three wickets before conceding a run. He finished with three for 20.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ (1st Innings) 443 (N.D. McKenzie 182, H.H. Dippenaar 99).

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings) 192 (D.L. Vettori 83; F. de Wet 6-50).

SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ (2nd Innings):

G.H. Bodi c Taylor b Martin 5

A.N. Petersen c Papps b Martin 0

N.D. McKenzie lbw b Oram 34

T. Tshabalala b Martin 3

H.H. Dippenaar lbw b Oram 5

J.P. Duminy lbw b Vettori 0

M.N. van Wyk lbw b Vettori 9

R.K. Kleinveldt c McCullum b Oram 5

F. de Wet c Papps b Oram 0

C.K. Langeveldt c Vincent b Oram 21

L.L. Tsotsobe not out 16

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6) 8

TOTAL (all out, 28.5 overs) 106

FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-16, 3-20, 4-54, 5-55, 6-57, 7-63, 8-69, 9-73.

BOWLING: Bond 8-1-32-0 (1w); Martin 8-4-20-3 (1w); Oram 6.5-3-16-5; Vettori 6-0-36-2.

NEW ZEALAND (2nd Innings, overnight 230-6):

C.D. Cumming b Langeveldt 14

M.H.W. Papps lbw b Tsotsobe 22

L. Vincent lbw b Kleinveldt 8

S.B. Styris c van Wyk b Tsotsobe 0

R.L. Taylor c Dippenaar b de Wet 86

J.D.P. Oram lbw b Tsotsobe 9

B.B. McCullum b de Wet 77

D.L. Vettori b Bodi 30

S.E. Bond c Dippenaar b de Wet 6

I.E. O’Brien b Duminy 6

C.S. Martin not out 1

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-3, W-2, NB-6) 13

TOTAL (all out, 79 overs) 272

FALL OF WKTS: 1-24, 2-46, 3-46, 4-51, 5-67, 6-206, 7-239), 8-255, 9-268

BOWLING: De Wet 23-3-76-3 (1nb); Langeveldt 20-10-58-1 (1nb); Tsotsobe 14-1-53-3 (1nb, 1w); Kleinveldt 9-2-40-1 (1nb, 1w); Tshabalala 5-0-27-0; McKenzie 5-1-6-0; Duminy 2-0-3-1; Bodi 1-0-4-1 (2nb).

Result: South Africa ‘A’ won by 85 runs.

UMPIRES: M. Erasmus and B.G. Jerling.

MATCH REFEREE: D. Govindjee.—AFP