New Zealand's opening woes and wicketless Vettori

Statistical highlights from the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand in Johannesburg

11-Nov-2007

South Africa routed New Zealand by 358 runs in the first Test in Johannesburg. Here are a few statistical highlights from the game:

Dale Steyn had a great outing at the Wanderers © AFP

Dale Steyn finished with match-figures of 10 for 93, his first ten-wicket haul in Tests. His 5 for 34 in New Zealand's first innings was his best in a Test innings. Steyn now has taken a five-for on five occasions, his first coming in the first Test of New Zealand's previous tour of South Africa. He has 26 wickets in four Tests against New Zealand, averaging below 20 per wicket.

The 358-run win is South Africa's biggest [in terms of runs] in Tests, eclipsing their 356-run victory against England at Lord's in 1994. It's also New Zealand's worst margin of defeat [in terms of runs]. They had lost by 299 runs against Pakistan in 2001.

Jacques Kallis became the first South African and the eighth batsman overall to complete 9000 Test runs. Kallis is also the leading run-scorer in New Zealand-South Africa Tests, with four centuries, ahead of Jackie McGlew's three. Kallis's 186 is also the highest score by a South African at the Wanderers.

With his unbeaten 174, Hashim Amla bettered his previous-best of 149, also against New Zealand, in Cape Town. Amla and Kallis added 330 runs for the third wicket, the highest partnership for any wicket in Tests involving both teams, 15 more than the 315-run stand between Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs in Christchurch in 1999. It is also South Africa's highest partnership at the Wanderers.

New Zealand's first-innings total of 118 is also the lowest by a visiting team at the Wanderers. Four of New Zealand's lowest totals in Tests against South Africa have come in Johannesburg.

New Zealand's openers managed scores of 16 and 12 in Johannesburg. The side has struggled in that aspect in recent years, having failed to get past the 100-run mark for the first wicket in 34 innings. The last time they did so was in June 2004 against England, when Stephen Fleming and Mark Richardson opened the innings. The two managed 94 in the second innings of that match; since then New Zealand's openers have averaged 24.62 for the first wicket, with a best of 61.

Daniel Vettori's stint as New Zealand's Test captain couldn't have got off to a worse possible start, compounded by the fact that South Africa's batsmen have done well against him. He has picked up 17 wickets at a whopping 70.17 in ten Tests against South Africa. Vettori went wicketless in South Africa's second innings. He finished with 116 runs from 37 overs, the most number of runs he's conceded and overs he's bowled without taking a wicket in a Test innings.

Chris Martin bagged a pair in Tests for the fifth time, which is a record. Martin has six ducks against South Africa in nine Tests, four of which has come in three Tests at the Wanderers. However, Martin more than makes up with his bowling against South Africa, with 42 wickets at a strike-rate of 45.

Jacques Kallis Hashim Amla Daniel Vettori Chris Martin New Zealand South Africa South Africa vs New Zealand New Zealand tour of South Africa