Bond powers New Zealand to top

Four wickets by express bowler Shane Bond earned New Zealand the upper hand on the first day of the first Test...

Four wickets by express bowler Shane Bond earned New Zealand the upper hand on the first day of the first Test against South Africa on Thursday. New Zealand reached the close on 41 for two after dismissing South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, for 226.

Bond took 4-73 in helpful overhead conditions. Medium pacer Chris Martin, who had two catches dropped, supported Bond well and took 3-67. South African opener Herschelle Gibbs was fifth out for a steadying 63. The hosts got off to the worst possible start when skipper Graeme Smith attempted to leave a delivery from Martin in the second over and was bowled off the edge of his bat for one.

New Zealand lost their openers early. Paceman Makhaya Ntini had Michael Papps caught at third slip for one before fast bowler Dale Steyn trapped Craig Cumming in front for 12. Former captain Stephen Fleming, who batted with a dislocated thumb, was unbeaten on 22.

Scoreboard

South Africa first innings

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G Smith b Martin 1, H Gibbs c Fleming b Martin 63, H Amla c McCullum b Bond 12, J Kallis c McCullum b O’Brien 29, A Prince c Fleming b Bond 1, AB de Villiers c Oram b Bond 33, M Boucher c Papps b Vettori 43, A Nel c McCullum b Bond 15, P Harris lbw b Vettori 3, D Steyn c McCullum b Martin 13, M Ntini not out 0

Extras (lb-6 w-1 nb-6) 13; Total (all out, 74.3 overs) 226

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-20, 3-73, 4-92, 5-141, 6-162, 7-182, 8-195, 9-219

Bowling: Bond 17-1-73-4, Martin 17.3-3-67-3, Oram 12-3-31-0, O’Brien 10-4-23-1, Vettori 18-6-26-2

New Zealand first innings

C Cumming lbw b Steyn 12

M Papps c de Villiers b Ntini 2

S Fleming not out 22

S Bond not out 0

Extras (lb-4 nb-1) 5; Total (for two wickets, 13 overs) 41

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-40

Bowling: Steyn 6-1-15-1, Ntini 4-2-10-1, Nel 3-0-12-0

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