Kiwi batsmen slump again as they fail to tackle SA pace

New Zealand collapsed again against the South Africa pace attack when they staggered to 47 for six in their first innings in reply to the hosts' 525 for eight declared on the second day of the second Test at St. George's Park on Saturday.

The pace duo of Dale Steyn and Rory Kleinveldt ended the day with figures of two for 14 and two for 18 respectively while left-arm spinner Robin Peterson claimed two wickets in two balls.

After South Africa had declared 25 minutes into the evening session New Zealand, who were bowled out for 45 on the opening morning of the two-match series, were again in disarray.

Steyn, bowling with pace and aggression with the new ball, reduced the Kiwis to eight for two after he had Martin Guptill (1) and Kane Williamson (5) both caught in the slip cordon.

Kleinveldt then took over when he had Dean Brownlie (10) caught behind by keeper AB de Villiers and Daniel Flynn (0) lbw as New Zealand slumped to 27 for four inside 16 overs.

Captain Brendon McCullum battled his way to 13 off 61 balls before he edged a delivery from Peterson to Jacques Kallis playing an extravangant drive. Debutant Colin Munro was caught at short-leg from the next delivery.

Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar all reached three figures for the world number one side.

Du Plessis, who began the day on 69, eventually scored 137 off 252 balls with 14 fours and two sixes before he became medium-pacer Munro's first Test wicket when he was caught in the covers.

Elgar brought up his first ton, in his third Test, off what turned out to be the last ball of South Africa's innings to end not out on 103 off 170 deliveries with 14 fours and a six.

Elgar and Du Plessis combined for a partnership of 131 off 38.5 overs, a South African sixth-wicket record stand against New Zealand, beating the previous best of 126 scored by Darryl Cullinan and Shaun Pollock at Auckland in 1998.

Amla added just four runs to his overnight total before he was caught down the leg-side by keeper Watling off a delivery from left-arm seamer Trent Boult.

He was out for 110 off 235 balls with his innings including eight fours while he and Du Plessis put on 113 runs for the fifth-wicket off 36.5 overs.

South Africa hold a 1-0 series lead.

Scoreboard

South Africa 1st innings (overnight 325-4)

A Petersen c Patel b Bracewell 21

G Smith c Watling b Wagner 54

H Amla c Watling b Boult 110

J Kallis c Watling b Bracewell 8

A de Villiers c Williamson b Patel 51

F du Plessis c McCullum b Munro 137

D Elgar not out 103

R Peterson c Patel b Munro 8

D Steyn c Patel b Bracewell 5

R Kleinveldt not out 7

Extras: (B-6, LB-8, NB-3, W-4) 21

Total (153.5 overs) 525 for 8 dec.

Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-121, 3-137, 4-223, 5-336, 6-467, 7-481, 8-508.

Bowling: Boult 32-5-108-1, Bracewell 34-6-94-3, Wagner 33-4-135-1, Patel 36.5-2-134-1, Munro 18-4-40-2.

New Zealand 1st innings

M Guptill c Petersen b Steyn 1

B McCullum c Kallis b Peterson  13

K Williamson c Smith b Steyn 4

D Brownlie c De Villiers b Kleinveldt 10

D Flynn lbw Kleinveldt 0

B Watling not out 15

C Munro c Elgar b Peterson 0

D Bracewell not out 3

Extras (lb-1) 1

Total ( in 24 overs) 47 for 6;

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-8, 3-27, 4-27, 5-39, 6-39