Rain draws the first test between New Zealand and South Arica
In the South Africa's tour to New Zealand, the first test match ended up as draw after the fifth and final day was washed by rain. Cricket lovers were expecting an interesting fifth day of the match. Here is the detailed report on this match.
After the end of the fourth day of the first test between New Zealand and South Africa cricket fans were expecting a result on the fifth and last day of the match but rain washes all the expectations and match ends up as draw. Both the teams were in even position after the end of the Day 4. After the match was declared as draw, South African captain Greame Smith was declared as the Man of the Match for his excellent 115 in the second innings.
After a poor show in ODI series, New Zealand team played some competitive cricket in this match. The touring team South Africa also played well in the second innings after bowled out cheaply in the first inning. The match was played at University Oval, Dunedin. South Africa made a score of 238 in their first innings. Hashim Amla was the top scorer with 62 runs. Smith and Rudolph scored 53 and 52 runs respectively in that inning while Chris Martin took 4 wickets for 56 runs. New Zealand too lost early wickets in the first innings but their batsman managed to take a lead of 35 runs. Eight of their batsman reached to the two-figure digit score but nobody scored a half-century from their side in the inning. In-form Vernon Philander took four wickets at the cost of 72 runs.
In their second inning, South Africa lost two early wickets. But Amla and Greame Smith put together a partenership of 200 runs for third wicket to came back in the match. Amla made 115 while Smith was out on 113. Rudolph was another batsman who scored an attacking century. Bracewell took 3 wickets from New Zealand. Chasing a score of 401, New Zealand lost two wickets at the score of 55 only. Philander got Guptill in the last delivery of the eighth over of the inning while Imran Tahir got Rob Nicol. New Zealan were looking in danger but their two experienced campaigners Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum take the innings to 137 for at the stumps on fourth day. But rain become the villan and draws an interesting looking test for a large number cricket lovers.
