Steyn and Ntini rout New Zealand
New Zealand's resistance lasted just six overs on the final morning at Centurion, as Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn combined to complete the job they had started with the new ball the previous evening. Ntini took 5 for 51, and ten in the match, and Steyn to
The Bulletin by Andrew Miller
19-Apr-2006
New Zealand 327 and 120 (Ntini 5-51, Steyn 5-47) lost to South Africa 276 and 299 (de Villiers 97, Kallis 62) by 128 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
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New Zealand's resistance lasted just six overs on the final morning at Centurion, as Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn combined to complete the job they had started with the new ball the previous evening. Ntini took 5 for 51, and ten in the match, and Steyn took 5 for 47, his best haul in Test cricket.
Most of the New Zealand resistance came from a pugnacious 38 from Daniel Vettori, who decided from the very first over that attack was the best form of defence. Following on from his 81 in the first innings, he took the attack to Ntini and Steyn, latching on to anything short to crack four fours in the first four overs of the day.
But all South Africa needed was one breakthrough and the resistance swiftly crumbled. They should have had it when Hamish Marshall edged a full swinging delivery from Steyn, only for Boeta Dippenaar to drop the chance at first slip, but Marshall had not added to his 25 when Ntini blasted him from the crease with a superb angled lifter that grazed the edge of a limp bat.
One over later, and Vettori's vigil was over, as Steyn tempted him to go for the cut, but cramped him for room with his extra bounce. The deficit was still a whopping 129 runs, and with the last pair of Chris Martin and James Franklin at the crease, few doubted there would be much hanging around. Sure enough, Martin failed to get in line to Steyn, and lost his middle stump to complete an emphatic 128-run hammering.
How they were out
New Zealand
Peter Fulton c Boucher b Ntini 4 (5 for 1)
Lifter took shoulder of the bat
Lifter took shoulder of the bat
Kyle Mills c Dippenaar b Ntini 0 (5 for 2)
First slip diving forward and right to hold low edge
First slip diving forward and right to hold low edge
Stephen Fleming c Kallis b Steyn 6 (17 for 3)
Loose shot to outswinger
Loose shot to outswinger
Scott Styris c Boucher b Steyn (23 for 4)
Regulation outside edge
Regulation outside edge
Nathan Astle c de Villiers b Ntini 2 (26 for 5)
Back-foot slash to third slip
Jacob Oram b Ntini 2 (28 for 6)
Ball scooted through, took off stump
Ball scooted through, took off stump
Brendon McCullum c Dippenaar b Steyn 33 (73 for 7)
Forcing edge to first slip
Forcing edge to first slip
Hamish Marshall c Boucher b Ntini 25 (119 for 8)
Fast and climbing, angled in. Thin edge
Fast and climbing, angled in. Thin edge
Daniel Vettori c Boucher b Steyn 38 (119 for 9)
Thin nick to ambitious swish
Thin nick to ambitious swish
Chris Martin b Steyn 0 (120 for 10)
Fast and full, lost middle stump
Fast and full, lost middle stump
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo