Shakib helps stretch lead to 258

Shakib Al Hasan once again stepped up for his team, this time with the bat, as Bangladesh seized the advantage on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand in Chittagong. The day started with Shakib bagging the best innings haul by a Bangladesh bowler to restrict New Zealand to 171, before his first Test half-century helped his team to 184 for 8, a formidable lead of 258.

Overnight on 155 for 9, Daniel Vettori started with the intention to reduce the deficit, but Shakib bowled Iain O'Brien through his legs to hand his team a 74-run first-innings lead. Bangladesh then began their second innings far more positively than their first. They looked to score runs and kept their run-rate above three for most of the morning. It was in direct contrast to the first innings, where the run-rate hovered around one for 40-odd overs.

After the early loss of Junaid Siddique to Kyle Mills for 6, some excellent spin bowling by Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel choked the runs, which led to a spree of wickets before lunch. Patel had Rajin Saleh caught in front of his stumps by bringing the ball back from well outside the off stump. In the next over, Vettori claimed the prize scalp of Mohammad Ashraful, who got an outside edge to a ball he was trying to dispatch over mid-off and was brilliantly caught at point by Aaron Redmond.

The hosts were reduced to 48 for 4 when Patel took the wicket of first-innings hero Mehrab Hossain jnr just before lunch. After the fall of Tamim Iqbal - the only batsman to reach double figures among the top five - soon after the break, Shakib joined Mushfiqur Rahim at the crease with his team facing the prospect of being scuttled for an embarrassingly low total.

Just as Vettori had done the previous day, Shakib looked composed from the beginning. He hit the bad balls to the boundary and pushed for singles from the good deliveries. He put on a valuable 56 with Mushfiqur and 48 with Naeem Islam, two stands that could prove vital. He was finally caught by Ross Taylor in the slips off Vettori for a well-compiled 71. He hit 12 fours and faced 151 balls.

The hosts ended the day at 184 for 8, a lead of 258. Vettori finished with 4 for 39 and Patel 2 for 52. Before the day began, chasing between 250 and 300 might have seemed beyond the New Zealanders, but the pitch began to lose its venom as the day progressed. The ball stopped turning and didn't bounce as much as it did on the first few days. The cracks didn't open up in line with expectations, and the lack of turn and bounce was why Vettori used fast bowlers Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills and O'Brien in the final session of the day. However, the heat made it difficult for them to bowl long spells, with the temperature hovering around 37º C.

After the day's performance, Bangladesh look favourites for a second Test win, but with the pitch easing out, New Zealand would hope conditions stay the same for their fourth-innings chase.

Naeem set for Test debut

Naeem Islam is set to earn his first Test cap for Bangladesh in the first Test against New Zealand starting Friday at Chittagong. Having made his ODI debut in the recently-concluded three-match series against the same opposition, he will become the 51st Test player for Bangladesh.

"Once I heard that I would be in the Test team, I was very happy. It is like a dream for me," Naeem said. "There are no personal goals for me but to bat for a long time. Although I like batting between four and six, I would stick to whatever the team tells me to do."

Primarily a middle-order batsman, his useful offspin will give Bangladesh the option of an additional allrounder as they look for their first series win against New Zealand. "I am used to bowling 15-20 overs so and if the captain asks me to bowl more than that, I must try to do that," said Naeem.

Though run out without facing a single ball in his very first innings in the second ODI at Dhaka, Naeem put up a much better show with an unbeaten 46 in the next match at Chittagong. He also contributed with the ball picking up three wickets at 34.66.

This apart, the 21-year-old who plays for Rajshahi in Bangladesh's domestic circuit, has been in good form for the last two seasons and his time in the Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy and the Bangladesh A team has admittedly helped his chances of staking a claim in the Test team.

"I have been playing with the Academy and A team in foreign conditions so probably I felt much calmer because of that," said Naeem, who captained the Academy team in their 2-1 ODI series victory against the Sri Lanka Academy XI last month.

Rajshahi captain Khaled Mashud backed Naeem's inclusion and felt the player deserved his chance. "He has the quality of playing in the longer version and he deserves to play for Bangladesh given his domestic performance. I think he is a rare breed among offspinners because he can read a batsman and not just bowl offbreak for the sake of bowling."

Taylor century grabs series

Bangladesh had a bright start to the 100th ODI in the country, but hopes of a possible series win dimmed once two of New Zealand's emerging talents, Ross Taylor and Jamie How, stepped up to the challenge, and Bangladesh's top order capitulated. Although they failed to pull off their first series victory over a major Test-playing nation, Bangladesh, who'd lost several regulars to the ICL, gained in confidence during the contest.

That confidence showed as their new-ball bowlers - Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel - accounted for both openers, reducing New Zealand to 13 for 2. The New Zealand top order had collapsed in the first two one-dayers but How and Taylor averted a repeat by putting on a century stand.

Taylor scored his third ODI century while How provided the early momentum during his 73 to help New Zealand reach 249, their highest total of the series. How sparked off the recovery, scoring quickly to put the pressure back on the bowlers. Mortaza's first four overs went for just five runs, but How opened up with two fours in each of the next two overs.

Taylor took time to get his eye in, but neither batsmen let Abdur Razzak, the left-arm spinner, settle. In his third over, Razzak was hit over long-on by Taylor; How followed up with a four through the same region. Nor were the other spinners allowed to bowl too many tight overs.

How was lbw to offspinner Naeem Islam after putting on 125 for the third wicket and Taylor then took charge to ensure the scoring-rate was kept above six. Two quick wickets, however, hampered their chances of pushing the run-rate in the third Powerplay (overs 35-40). Taylor fell in the 47th over to Mortaza soon after reaching his hundred; only 44 of his runs coming in boundaries. Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills maintained the momentum, adding 30 in the last three overs.

Chasing 250, Tamim Iqbal, the local boy, raised Bangladesh's expectations with a brisk 35. His partner Junaid Siddique fell early to Mills, but Tamim and debutant Imrul Kayes built the innings patiently. Bangladesh had moved to 49 after 11.5 overs when the innings fell apart. Oram, who failed with the bat, struck in his first over, having Kayes caught behind for 12. Bangladesh lost Tamim on the same score when he nicked Jeetan Patel to McCullum. An ambitious shot from Ashraful led to his downfall, and a slog-sweep from Shakib Al Hasan reduced Bangladesh to 59 for 5.

Naeem, who's played a vital part with his offbreaks in his debut series, saw off more deliveries (106) than the top five combined and remained unbeaten on 46 to delay New Zealand's celebrations till the 50th over. The lower order gave him good support, but a professional New Zealand side ended Bangladesh's hopes of pulling off another upset win.

Ashraful eyes more success

Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful on Friday said his team are well on the way to becoming a competitive force after beating New Zealand for the first time in 12 One-Day Internationals.

Bangladesh upset the Black Caps here on Thursday to go 1-0 up in the three-match series against the side chasing the second spot in the One-Day rankings.

"I have said this before, if we do well in all three departments then we stand a good chance of being competitive. Thursday's performance was proof of that and it should pave the way for more wins," said Ashraful.

The captain hit an unbeaten 60 to guide the home team to a seven-wicket win, reaching their modest 202-run target with 4.3 overs to spare.

The sensational win was set up by paceman Mashrafe Mortaza (4-44) and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak (3-32), who restricted New Zealand to their lowest One-Day total of 201-9 against Bangladesh.

Left-handed opener Zunaed Siddique then scored a brilliant 85 for his maiden half-century to establish a base for a comfortable run-chase.

Taylor goes against the mould

Most of New Zealand's cricket so far on this tour has been described as 'grafting' and 'workmanlike', an assessment that even coach John Bracewell didn't disagree with. There is nothing of either word in the way that Ross Taylor bats; 'flamboyant' and 'adventurous' would probably work better.

Taylor was one of five New Zealand players to spend time at the Indian Premier League, before joining up with his team-mates two weeks into the England tour. While he was in India he spent time chatting with Rahul Dravid and Shivnarine Chanderpaul about the skills needed to succeed in England. He clearly didn't listen too much, because it's highly unlikely that either of them would have suggested trying to belt the cover off the ball.

Both toured England last year with West Indies and India. While Chanderpaul enjoyed a prolific time, making 446 runs at 148.66 in three Tests, he never threatened to tear an attack apart in the manner Taylor did during his third fifty, which took 42 balls. Meanwhile, Dravid's final Test innings on India's tour was a tortuous 96-ball 12 at The Oval. Taylor's second Test century took only 34 more deliveries.

However, there has been a noticeable evolution in Taylor's batting during the few days between Lord's and Old Trafford. His strike-rate for the Bangalore Royal Challengers was 183.95 and he began this tour unable to rein in his attacking mindset at the beginning of an innings. The warm-up matches were characterised by flashy dismissals after a couple of attractive boundaries, then at Lord's in the first innings he tried to pull a good length ball from Stuart Broad, and only managed to top edge to second slip.

"I was very disappointed with the way I got out," he said in his Cricinfo diary. "I was a little nervous when I walked out to bat, but playing across the line as I did to a shorter ball from Stuart Broad was not part of my game plan. Test cricket has its own special tempo and I was too rushed. I'll learn from that, as I do each time I bat in Test cricket." And learn he certainly has.

"I played straighter, that's the game plan I took out there," he said after Daniel Vettori's two late strikes left New Zealand in control. "I know if they bowl in other areas that, if I have a base of playing straight, my natural instincts will take over. A lot of people probably thought I was nervous at Lord's, but no more so than playing at another other ground. I just felt a little bit out of sorts, but I've work hard over the last few days and it made me feel a lot more relaxed."

Taylor is a naturally attacking batsman and there will always be an element of risk to his play. It is how he manages those risks that will determine how successful he becomes. The fact that he appears to be a quick learner will help his cause no end, but it is also a good sign that, even with a couple of failures behind him, he had the confidence to continue is own game.

England could easily have run all over New Zealand on the opening day, but Taylor's counter-attack redressed the balance almost before the home side could think they'd gained control. On the second morning the challenge was slightly different, consolidate and try to carry the game away from them. The loss of two team-mates to run outs didn't help, but by the time he was joined by the bowlers he was seeing the ball so well.

There was a hint of Nathan Astle and a sprinkle of Chris Cairns - not bad role models for an aggressive middle-order batsman - in the way he carved up England's bowlers in the later stages on his innings. It was one-day cricket - "The IPL helped me with those last 20 to 30 runs," Taylor said - and England needed to respond with some one-day style bowling. However, it's difficult to remember a single yorker that was attempted and Taylor was quite happy to swat length into the stands.

Andrew Strauss, who made a 60 that would have suited the grafting description, preferred to praise Taylor rather than suggest it was England's shortcomings that played a part. "Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition and when someone doesn't allow bowlers to settle," he said. "As a bowler you feel like you have a chance against people like that, but if they get in and get on top it's hard to stem the flow of runs. I thought he played exceptionally well and you have to take your hat off to him."

Taylor has only played Tests against two nations; South Africa and England. He was found out by the bouncy pitches in Johannesburg and Centurion Park, but here the short ball was easily dispatched. He has formed a liking to English bowlers over the last few months. The series in New Zealand brought 310 runs at 51.66, including his maiden Test century at Hamilton. That was a rather more prosaic innings, taking 185 balls to today's 130, but Taylor said the memories of that first hundred helped today after he got stalled in the 90s.

"I think I probably batted better in this game and also the game situation it makes it a little bit better as well. I think most batsmen, unless you have 20-30 hundreds, will be nervous but I think I'd have been a lot more nervous if I hadn't already got one."

The list of top-order batsman New Zealand have lost in recent times shows the talent that has disappeared; Astle, Craig McMillan, Stephen Fleming and Scott Styris to name four. It hasn't proved easy trying to find suitable replacements, but in Taylor they have someone with a long career in front of them and he is certainly more then the grafter.

Vettori and BcCullum thrash Bangladesh

The last day of the year was a memorable one for Daniel Vettori, who won another toss, grabbed five easy wickets to become New Zealand's highest limited-overs wicket-taker, and basked in his first series victory since taking over the captaincy after the World Cup.

Rain was expected but the weather held up in sunny Queenstown, New Zealand's "Vegas by the Lake", and Vettori played all his cards right to spin Bangladesh out for just 93, a total overhauled by Brendon McCullum's murderous 29-ball 80 before the local caterers burned lunch. Against the backdrop of the scenic Remarkables hill range, Bangladesh were simply annihilated, a 3-0 sweep was completed, and the hosts went into the New Year in a festive mood ahead of a busy season.

Before this game Mohammad Ashraful, Bangladesh's captain, demanded his side improve from an "unacceptable" performance in the second match, but it appeared no one was listening. Vettori's good luck at the toss continued and he had little hesitation in giving his bowlers a crack at a struggling Bangladeshi top order, whose penchant for driving on the up had them in knots. They got away with it in Napier, to an extent, but struggled in seam-friendly conditions where the ball didn't come onto the ball all that easily.

Kyle Mills' good series continued as he bowled Junaid Siddique in the third over, going for an expansive drive and inside-edging back onto his stumps. Mills and every seamer included bowled accurately and asked plenty of questions of the batsmen. Michael Mason, sporting a bit of hair dye in his first game since the World Cup, picked up an out-of-sorts Tamim Iqbal in his second over, the 16th. Struggling to time the ball off the square, Tamim saw some width and poked at it, but was smartly snapped at slip by Scott Styris, diving to his left. His laborious 13 from 56 deliveries summed up Bangladesh's predicament.

Source : http://content-ind.cricinfo.com

New Zealand's stern no to ICL rebels

New Zealand has asked its selectors not to consider Indian Cricket League-aligned players while picking the national team for future assignments.

The decision by the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) put paid to the hopes of Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Hamish Marshall and Darryl Tuffey to play either in national or A teams.

"We have a preference that our selectors take into consideration the fact that that these guys have been playing in an unsanctioned competition, an event that isn't in the best interests of New Zealand or world cricket, and that we'd rather that they didn't play," said NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan.

"I don't think we can say that they're ineligible for selection. We'd prefer to say that the selectors will be encouraged to consider other players," he was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star Times.

While NZC fell short of announcing a ban on the 'rebel' players, it has been decided that the cricketers would not be allowed to hold contracts with the State Championship teams and their participation would be limited to playing for match payments on a game-by-game basis.

These Test cricketers played for the rebel ICL Twenty20 championship in Panchkula, Haryana, despite opposition from the International Cricket Council and its affiliates.

Of the 'rebel' players, Cairns, Harris, McMillan and Astle have announced their retirement from international cricket while Tuffey, and Marshall are likely lose out the chance to play for their country again.

Vaughan would soon convey the Board's decision to BCCI vice president Lalit Modi and the NZC official said, "There's an understanding that we don't support the ICL and that we don't want to give them unnecessary traction."

BCCI had earlier resented the inclusion of Tuffey in an Auckland XI that played the Bangladesh tourists, saying the selection of an ICL-aligned player undermined the agreement.

Source : http://www.cricketnext.com/

New Zealand face their pace demons

If the first 25 overs of this Chappell-Hadlee Series are any indication, then Australia have a fight on their hands if they are to wrest the trophy from New Zealand. Daniel Vettori's bold decision to face their pace demons paid off with Brendon McCullum and Jamie How setting a firm platform of 3 for 123 after the early loss of Lou Vincent.

But then came two wickets, How and Scott Styris as Shaun Tait, in his first international at his home ground, began to unsettle them. They now have some rebuilding work to do and will rely on McCullum to lead them further.

The visitors admitted before the match that pace has been a weakness, but McCullum stood up to everything that Australia - in the mighty form of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Nathan Bracken - could throw at him, and then some, using the pace of a quick pitch well to launch a sturdy assault. He offered a series of terrific drives and cuts square of the wicket, the highlight so far a flat six over point off Lee.

Tait also got the treatment in his first international match at home, with one over disappearing for three cover-driven fours, although in his second spell - McCullum by now on 67 - he did prompt a chancy inside-edge into space and he eventually struck to remove How and then Styris, both edging.

McCullum, who headed into this match on the back of a quality 88 against the Chairman's XI and a tidy series in South Africa, had to weather an early barrage in which he was cut him in half more times than a busy magician's assistant. Then it was his turn to do the cutting and he had scored the bulk of the runs as the fifty partnership came up off as many balls between him and the more circumspect How.

How and McCullum power New Zealand win

New Zealand, led by scintillating half-centuries from Brendon McCullum and Jamie How, dismantled South Africa with clinical efficiency and brought the one-day series alive with a seven-wicket victory in the second one-dayer at St George's Park. The target of 210 was seen as fairly competitive under lights but McCullum and How tackled it with a level of confidence rarely seen from New Zealand in this series.

There was a refreshing consistency with which New Zealand dominated the game for most parts. The 89-run rescue act for the sixth wicket between Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher was the only lengthy passage of play dominated by South Africa - who had won eight of the last ten day-night games here - but the momentum was with New Zealand from the second ball of the match.

Lou Vincent's run-out got the chase off to a rocky start but that brought McCullum and How together. McCullum was in imperious touch against Nel in particular and dented his confidence in one over. Nel pitched up outside off, McCullum lofted through the line and deposited the ball straight back over his head for the first six of the innings. The next ball was heaved over point before How got into the act with a streaky inside edge past short fine leg, but the intent with which the pair picked up 16 in that single over sent out a statement that New Zealand weren't going to be trampled upon again.

Both showed a fondness for horizontal bat shots - some met with thin air, some off the toe edge while some rocketed off the meat of the bat. The confidence in the strokeplay rubbed off on the running between the wickets as the pair rotated the strike judiciously. The fielding was sharp, characteristic of the South Africans, but not sharp enough. The number of direct hits didn't deter How or McCullum from applying further pressure on the infielders. Gaps were bisected with precision and there wasn't much Graeme Smith could do to plug them.

The ploy of bowling slower balls, adopted by Charl Langeveldt, had the right intention - to confuse the batsmen - but not the desired effect. The ball often landed short of a good length, allowing the batsmen time to plan their strokes. The partnership looked ominous for South Africa and the bounce and sideways movement in the evening was barely seen under lights. As the pair stretched the stand to 150, the shoulders drooped and South Africa ran out of ideas, with the chase progressing at the rate of knots.

Despite the running, it was ironical that two of the three dismissals came by way of run-outs. Dale Steyn, on the field as a substitute, set a fine example with a flat throw from deep extra cover to send back McCullum for 81 and How was trapped playing across the line to Langeveldt for 76. But it was a little too late for inspiration as Scott Styris and Ross Taylor played neat cameos and reached the target with 68 balls to spare.

New Zealand's batsmen were simply carrying on the team's effort in the field. South Africa's top order wilted under the pressure created at the start by an incisive opening burst from Kyle Mills, backed by restrictive spells from the two-pronged spin attack of Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel.

The catching and anticipation was sharp and agile, and New Zealand, sensing an opportunity to make further inroads, threw themselves in the field, plugging the gaps in the first Powerplay. At 20 for 3, the pressure began to tell, particularly on Jacques Kallis, who was uncharacteristically scratchy in a situation tailor-made for him. Attempts at shuffling across the stumps to unsettle the bowler's rhythm were met with little or no success and the fielders patrolling the inner circle were kept busy each time Kallis attempted something different.

JP Duminy, who promised plenty with a couple of smooth drives on the front foot, fell to an untimely slog off Patel. And as the usually festive crowd turned quiet, New Zealand celebrated Kallis' wicket as well.

The rebuilding act by Boucher and Pollock wasn't electrifying but effective as they rotated the strike against Patel and Vettori. The first ten overs of the stand had little in runs value -only 26 came off it - but the passage of play after the drinks interval followed a slightly different script. Pollock was fed with three gifts in succession by Gillespie - scooping two over backward point and dispatching the third back past the bowler - and suddenly the next ten overs yielded 58.

The late fireworks were reserved for Nel. He picked on Mills, one of New Zealand's least-effective bowlers at the death, slashing past gully, smoking one over square leg, and then following it up with a six over deep cover. Nel finished the innings in style with a six off Gillespie, giving South Africa hope. However, there weren't too many smiles in the South African camp after that.

Oram boost for New Zealand in must-win game

South Africa will look to continue their successful run against New Zealand with a win in the second ODI in Port Elizabeth. The hosts almost faltered during their run-chase in the first ODI in Durban but a win on Friday will give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Going by current form, South Africa are clear favourites and this is even without considering their record in day-night encounters at St. George's Park - eights win out of ten ODIs, with one no result.

The hosts will be boosted by the return of Herschelle Gibbs, who had missed the Twenty20 international and the first ODI with a knee injury. Gibbs' standby Morne van Wyk has been released from the squad to play for the Eagles in the SuperSport series.

The other dilemma facing the South African selectors surrounds their pace attack. New Zealand's batsmen were blown away by Dale Steyn during the two-Test series, and his inclusion in the playing XI could dent the tourists' confidence ahead of a must-win game.

Smith's opposition counterpart Daniel Vettori must be wondering what his team needs to do to beat this South African side. New Zealand's main worry through the Tests was the form of their batsmen, but after the Durban ODI, the team would be concerned over its bowling options as well, besides their poor catching, which Vettori highlighted as the main reason for the last-ball loss at Kingsmead.

Kyle Mills' 5 for 25 in Durban would have done Shane Bond proud but New Zealand could have done with some firepower at the other end - Mark Gillespie, Chris Martin, Scott Styris and Vettori conceded 220 runs and picked up three wickets.

Allrounder Jacob Oram will be a handy addition to the bowling department. Oram suffered a hamstring strain in the first Test, and Vettori indicated the team would play six bowlers.

"Jacob's probably the most important member of our team purely from the roles he fills, batting at number six and able to bowl 10 overs," Vettori told SuperCricket. "It's a luxury not many teams have and having him back means I can take six bowlers and we get a nice balance when he's playing."

South Africa primed for more success

Although New Zealand put up more of a fight in the Twenty20 on Friday night at the Wanderers, they are still trying to find their first victory of the tour against a strong South African side. The final chance for some success begins on Sunday with the first of three one-day internationals in Durban.

In their first ODI since the World Cup semi-final in April they are going to have to find some backbone to test South Africa, who recently registered a 3-2 series win in Pakistan. Despite pushing South Africa until the penultimate ball in Johannesburg - a significant improvement from the two hopeless drubbings in the Tests - for a large part of the match New Zealand were still a distant second best. The batting once again struggled to hold its own even though the home side rested Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel.

It would help New Zealand's cause to have the services of Jacob Oram, who missed the second Test and Twenty20 with a hamstring problem. His presence in the middle order would increase the scoring potential and offer Daniel Vettori an important option with the ball. Sources from inside New Zealand's camp said Oram was still not fully fit and may not be ready.

Chris Martin, however, is expected to return after a stomach virus - his energy is returning - and along with Kyle Mills, who made a useful start in the Twenty20, the bowling stocks aren't shaping up too badly.

Jeetan Patel's impressive spell on Friday will make it tempting for New Zealand to play two spinners even though Kingsmead often favours the quick bowlers. But the match is a day game so conditions should remain similar throughout with neither side having to contend with batting under the floodlights.

If Ntini and Nel return for South Africa it will be a challenge fitting in all the in-form bowlers. Shaun Pollock showed he can still bring plenty to the side with three wickets in the Twenty20 while Dale Steyn is due a one-day run and Albie Morkel is a useful all-round option. However, Mickey Arthur would rest a little easier if the top-order batting showed more consistency and captain Graeme Smith's form improved.

However, for Smith the match is a notable landmark as he reaches 100 matches as South Africa captain, with 56 victories during his tenure. "It is something I am very proud of when I look back at it," he said. "I guess when most guys get to these landmarks, they say that they have withstood the test of time but I am only 26 and I am very proud of what I have achieved.

"When you look at that number of games, you realise how inexperienced I was as a player when I took over as captain. When I think of the responsibility I had to take on, the way I have developed and where I have got to, I am very happy with what I have achieved."

But he won't be dwelling on the landmark for too long as he aims to continue South Africa's impressive season with another piece of silverware before the second half of their summer begins and the visit of West Indies.

Vettori lambasts 'inept' performance

The New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, branded his side's performance against South Africa "inept" after they lost the second Test at Centurion inside three days by an innings and 59 runs.

Prior to this brief two-Test series New Zealand had played eight Tests in two years (to South Africa's 19) and just two in over 12 months. It was, as Vettori admitted, a tough beginning to his tenure as captain.

"It doubles up after the performance we put up at the Wanderers. We thought we could come back and fight a little bit harder here but unfortunately we delivered a similarly inept performance," he said.

"We need to play more Test cricket. It's also got to come down to individuals, to increase skill levels and desire. We need to put performances together against quality opposition. We've got Bangladesh coming up next.

"If we go ahead and win those games it doesn't necessarily mean we've become a good Test team. We've got to put performances together against teams like Australia and South Africa, and England back home in our summer."

The 2-0 series loss relegates New Zealand to seventh in the Test rankings, while South Africa leapfrog India and Pakistan to third spot and close in on England. Though it was undoubtedly a team effort from South Africa, Dale Steyn had the biggest impact on the series with consequtive ten-wicket match hauls. A career-best 6 for 49 today routed New Zealand for a paltry 136.

"I'm just doing what I have to do," he said, "getting the ball in the right places and communicating well with my captain. The guys off the field prepare these things so we can see the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents. We have bowled to a plan."

Graeme Smith, his captain, was full of praise for the young colt but insisted that Steyn's success was due in no small part to Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis.

"He's [Steyn] bowled at pace with good control and he's got the ball to swing," he said. "But the other guys have worked around him pretty well which has allowed him to come back at different times and strike. I like to know that he's hungry for more success."

© Cricinfo

Steyn routs New Zealand with ten-wicket haul

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

A magnificent spell of 6 for 49 from Dale Steyn decimated a feeble New Zealand and led to South Africa winning the second and final Test at Centurion inside three days by an innings and 59 runs. It was Steyn's second ten-wicket haul in consecutive Tests, and New Zealand now limp towards a three-match one-day series.

This was a rout of frightening speed. It took South Africa just 34.3 overs to steamroll New Zealand for 136, a total that included Stephen Fleming's 54. Scott Styris scraped together 29; Brendon McCullum 21, while extras stole 11. The rest aren't worth talking about.

Steyn, however, is. For the second time in consecutive Tests he baffled - even occasionally frightened - New Zealand's wary top-order with pace, movement and aggression. As was the case in Johannesburg, he received fine support from Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis - all of whom were good, if not as exemplary as their young colt. Today, however, Steyn had one other helping hand: the finger of Mark Benson.

Lou Vincent was the first unlucky recipient when Benson adjudged that a leg-side slider would somehow have hit the stumps. It was a dreadful decision, but such is the way of the world when all is against you. Steyn, roaring up to the crease and in excellent rhythm, removed Michael Papps leg-before (plumb, this time) while Kallis ended Styris' staunch support of Fleming when he induced a thick outside edge.

Fleming batted angrily, petulantly and excellently - as he has in both these Tests - taking the aggressive route and seizing upon another short and wide. Of course, 105 Tests have taught him the value of patience and experience - both attributes which New Zealand lack in spades, as exemplified by Ross Taylor.

After thumping two fours, Nel roared a typically raucous and unlikely appeal for lbw which Taylor, and the umpire, dismissed out of hand. Noticing he had wandered from his crease, Hashim Amla at short-leg grabbed the ball and flicked it onto the stumps to run him out. Clever of Amla; careless and plain daft from Taylor. It rather sums up New Zealand cricket at the moment

Kallis flays hapless New Zealand

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

A masterful 131 from Jacques Kallis, his 29th Test hundred, put South Africa well in charge of the second Test against a demoralised and embattled New Zealand. Kallis and Hashim Amla, who was unbeaten on 89, shared in a 220-run stand for the third wicket - their second huge partnership in a week.

What made it all the more depressing for New Zealand was the speed at which Kallis and stole the momentum. Chris Martin had bowled impressively in the morning session, removed an out-of-form Graeme Smith in addition to Herschelle Gibbs. New Zealand's fielding, so shabby in the first Test at Johannesburg, was a vast improvement today too - led by Lou Vincent, who ought to have run out Amla in the fifth over of the day.

But from a rare position of relative strength, New Zealand's bowlers utterly lost the plot after lunch. Whereas in the morning Martin and Iain O'Brien were pitching it up, their strategy in the afternoon revolved around bumpers and bouncers. Kallis pounced, creaming fours through (and over) extra cover and pulling leg-side strays through midwicket with quite ominous power. Right from the off, it was clear this wasn't to be one of his stodgy days.

This was Kallis at his cavalier best, a near-flawless innings of technical perfection - and pleasing to the eye, too. The strategy, if they had one, of dropping the ball short was so flawed as to be laughable. Kallis flayed them over point; backward of square; over and through midwicket, not to mention crunching drives through his favoured cover region. He sped to a hundred, his 29th and fifth in seven innings, from 143 balls, while passing 1000 runs for the calendar year. Never has he been in such imperious form.

Amla was less commanding but wonderfully effective, and is clearly benefiting from batting so often with a man of Kallis's experience. The slightest err in line from New Zealand's bowlers was seized upon, timing the ball beautifully off the back foot - particularly off Martin who, after his long morning spell, was now tiring. Without Jacob Oram (hamstring) and their spearhead, Shane Bond, the onus fell on the gangling O'Brien and Mark Gillespie, the debutant.

Gillespie resembles an All Black No. 8 rather than a Black Cap No.10, and was deceptively quick with a heavy ball that bounces off a length. After tea, New Zealand finally ended their baffling bouncer strategy and Gillespie was rewarded for an excellent over to Kallis when he found one to jag back on him, trapping him in front.

South Africa batter New Zealand with pace

New Zealand wilted in the face of aggressive fast bowling from South Africa, as Dale Steyn continued his fine form with 4 for 42. From 84 for 1, they collapsed - literally, in the case of Craig Cumming - to 187 for 8.

It was another depressing day for New Zealand on a tour that has swung from one calamity to another. Without Jacob Oram, the towering allrounder and lacking the spearheading pace of Shane Bond, Daniel Vettori had little option other than to bat first, even on a pitch which had South Africa's bowlers salivating with glee. With a greenish tinge and crazy-paving cracks, it was made for Steyn and Makhaya Ntini.

They fell into the trap of bowling too short, however, and after the early wicket of Michael Papps, Cumming and Lou Vincent - who was drafted in to replace Oram - began to rebuild the team's confidence with a solid stand of 62. Vincent's counter-attack appeared rather reckless - fours slashed over point rather than creamed through the covers - but in the face of adversity, it was precisely what New Zealand needed. As can happen with South Africa, their shoulders dropped quickly and they went to lunch kicking their heels.

Whatever the Centurion chef served agreed with Steyn and Andre Nel in particular. After lunch, they mixed up their lengths impressively and, if anything, the pitch was quicker too. A ferociously quick bouncer from Steyn unsettled Vincent in the second over after lunch; Vincent attempted to hook him the very next delivery but found Paul Harris circling at square leg.

Cumming appeared to have the measure of the pitch and the length of the bowlers, too, thumping Ntini on the up over the covers and teaching his fallen team-mates the benefits of patience. But he had to leave the field after being struck a horrible, bloodying blow on the face while trying to pull Steyn. It was a terrific bouncer - fast, aggressive and straight - and simply too quick for Cumming, the ball jarring against the grill and flooring him.

Steyn obliterates feeble New Zealand

Dale Steyn picked up Test-best figures of 10 for 93 to condemn New Zealand to a huge 358-run defeat in the first Test at the Wanderers. South Africa completely obliterated a feeble New Zealand batting lineup and, with the injuries they have suffered in the past 24 hours, it's hard to see how New Zealand can recover in time for the second Test on Friday.


It was South Africa's largest margin of victory (by runs), beating the 356-run win over England at Lord's in 1994. Back then it was Allan Donald who spearheaded their victory; today it was another young fast bowler, Steyn, who tore in relentlessly. New Zealand offered scant resistance, folding midway through the second session on the fourth day.


The one man who stood in South Africa's way was Scott Styris - after Stephen Fleming, who fell for 17 last night, New Zealand's most experienced and gutsy batsman - but he fell in the second over, gloving Steyn down the leg-side.

Steyn had his tail up and was roaring up to the crease, giving Brendon McCullum a particularly torrid time with a medley of nasty short deliveries, one of which rapped him on his arm. McCullum was offered an arm guard by the physio which he declined. Given that New Zealand's dressing room resembles a casualty waiting room, it was perhaps not the wisest of decisions, but McCullum is nothing if not a dogmatic character. He fought hard, uppercutting Steyn over the slips with intent before escaping with a mis-hook over the same region.

Having battled against the pace of Steyn and aggression of Andre Nel, McCullum threw his wicket away when he spooned a simple catch to Herschelle Gibbs at gully. It was a meek end to a gutsy innings, and New Zealand had lost their fifth wicket.

NEW ZEALAND VS SOUTH AFRICA

The touring New Zealanders slumped to an 85-run defeat in their final warm-up match before facing South Africa in two Test matches.

They went down to South Africa A on the final day of a four-day match at Sedgars Park Sunday.

The Black Caps' fate was effectively sealed when Ross Taylor was out for 86 in the fifth over of the day, caught at gully by South Africa A captain Boeta Dippenaar off fast bowler Friedel de Wet.

Taylor and captain Daniel Vettori resumed with their side on 230 for six, needing another 128 to win.

With Taylor gone after after a 124-ball innings, which included 14 fours and a six, it was a matter of time for the bowlers to work their way through the tail.

De Wet, who took six for 50 in the first innings, followed up with three second innings wickets for match figures of nine for 126.

The New Zealanders go into the first Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg with a win and a loss in their two first-class matches.

Of most concern will be the form of their top-order batsmen, with only opener Craig Cumming, Taylor and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum having made half-centuries. Skipper Vettori, who was last out for 30 Sunday, hit two half-centuries as a lower order batsman.
Scoreboard

South Africa A first innings 443                   New Zealanders first innings 192

South Africa A second innings 106              New Zealanders second innings

C. Cumming b Langeveldt 14
M. Papps lbw b Tsotsobe 22
L. Vincent lbw b Kleinveldt 8
S. Styris c van Wyk b Tsotsobe 0
R. Taylor c Dippenaar b De Wet 86
J. Oram lbw b Tsotsobe 9
B. McCullum b De Wet 77
D. Vettori b Bodi 30
S. Bond c Dippenaar b De Wet 6
I. O'Brien b Duminy 6
C. Martin not out 1
Extras b2, lb3, w2, nb6 13
Total (79 overs) 272

Fall of wkts: 1-24, 2-46, 3-46, 4-51, 5-67, 6-206, 7-239, 8-255, 9-268

Bowling: De Wet 23-3-76-3 (1nb)
Langeveldt 20-10-58-1 (1nb)
Tsotsobe 14-1-53-3 (1nb, 1w)
Kleinveldt 9-2-40-1 (1nb, 1w)
Tshabalala 5-0-27-0
McKenzie 5-1-6-0
Duminy 2-0-3-1
Bodi 1-0-4-1 (2nb)

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