JOHANNESBURG, Nov 8: Four wickets by express bowler Shane Bond earned New Zealand the upper hand on the first day of the first Test against South Africa on Thursday.

New Zealand reached the close on 41 for two after dismissing South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, for 226.

Bond took 4-73 in helpful overhead conditions that were partially negated by a sluggish pitch.

Medium pacer Chris Martin, who had two catches dropped, supported Bond well and took 3-67.

South African opener Herschelle Gibbs was fifth out for a steadying 63.

The hosts got off to the worst possible start when skipper Graeme Smith attempted to leave a delivery from Martin in the second over and was bowled off the edge of his bat for one.

Hashim Amla scored 12 before Bond had him caught behind by wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum with a delivery that bounced steeply and straightened after pitching.

Both of Martin’s dropped catches were offered shortly before lunch by Jacques Kallis, who was spilled on 23 by Michael Papps at third slip and on 27 by Iain O’Brien at fine leg.

The errors did not prove costly as Kallis drove at the first delivery after lunch, which was bowled by medium pacer O’Brien, and was caught behind by McCullum for 29.

South Africa were reduced to 141 for five an hour before tea when Gibbs was caught by Fleming, this time at first slip.

A.B. de Villiers stood firm for 33 while Mark Boucher nursed South Africa past 200 and was ninth out for 43.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings):

G.C. Smith b Martin 1

H.H. Gibbs c Fleming b Martin 63

H.M. Amla c McCullum b Bond 12

J.H. Kallis c McCullum b O’Brien 29

A.G. Prince c Fleming b Bond 1

A.B. de Villiers c Oram b Bond 33

M.V. Boucher c Papps b Vettori 43

A. Nel c McCullum b Bond 15

P.L. Harris lbw b Vettori 3

D.W. Steyn c McCullum b Martin 13

M. Ntini not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-1, NB-6) 13

TOTAL (all out, 73.3 overs) 226

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-20, 3-73, 4-92, 5-141, 6-162, 7-182, 8-195, 9-219.

BOWLING: Bond 17-1-73-4 (3nb, 1w); Martin 17.3-3-67-3; Oram 12-3-31-0; O’Brien 10-4-23-1; Vettori 18-6-26-2 (3nb).

NEW ZEALAND (1st Innings):

C.D. Cumming lbw b Steyn 12

M.H.W. Papps c de Villiers b Ntini 2

S.P. Fleming not out 22

S.E. Bond not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-4, NB-1) 5

TOTAL (for two wkts, 13 overs) 41

FALL OF WKTS: 1-16, 2-40.

TO BAT: S.B. Styris, R.L. Taylor, J.D.P. Oram, B.B. McCullum, D.L. Vettori, I.E. O’Brien, C.S. Martin.

BOWLING (to-date): Steyn 6-1-15-1 (1nb); Ntini 4-2-10-1; Nel 3-0-12-0.

UMPIRES: M.R. Benson (England) and D.J. Harper (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: M. Erasmus (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).

—Agencies