Cullinan enters record books

Auckland, March 1: Daryll Cullinan became South Africa's highest individual Test scorer with an unbeaten 275 out of the team's total of 6...

Auckland, March 1: Daryll Cullinan became South Africa8217;s highest individual Test scorer with an unbeaten 275 out of the team8217;s total of 621 for five declared on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand at Eden Park today.

Though a worthy achievement, the home side8217;s batsmen confirmed the lifelessness of the pitch by reaching an impressive 205 for two by close of play, despite the pressure of a 422-run follow on target.

Cullinan passed the 274 scored by Graeme Pollock against Australia at Kingsmead in 1969-70 with a scurried second run off the occasional medium pace of Craig McMillan, at which point Cronje immediately declared.The stylish right hander, who turns 32 next week, also batted longer than any other South African, staying at the crease for 10 hours and 59 minutes, nine minutes longer than Gary Kirsten required to score his 210 against England at Old Trafford last year.

Cullinan8217;s innings, which included one chance on the second day when Simon Doull dropped a difficult catch on 132,spanned 490 deliveries and contained 27 fours and two sixes.

Cullinan8217;s two records, the longest and the biggest Test scores, supplement two other National records he holds. He scored the youngest first class century in South Africa at the age of 16 years, 304 days and then made the highest first class score 8212; 337 8212; four years ago.

Scoreboard

South Africa 1st innings, overnight 562-5: Gary Kirsten c Astle b Allott 128, Herschelle Gibbs b Vettori 34, Jacques Kallis lbw Doull 7, Daryll Cullinan not out 275, Hansie Cronje c Allott b Harris 30, Jonty Rhodes c Twose b Harris 63, Shaun Pollock not out 69; Extras b4, nb2, lb9: 15. Total for five wickets decl: 621.

Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-97, 3-280, 4-354, 5-495

Bowling: Doull 33-7-90-1, Allott 38-5-153-1, Nash 28-2-97-0, Vettori 42-8-120-1, Harris 45-10-94-2, McMillan 5.1-0-24-0, Astle 9-1-30-0.

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New Zealand 1st innings: Roger Twose c Boucher b Donald 31, Matthew Horne batting 92, Nathan Astle c Boucher b Donald 41, Craig McMillanbatting 21; Extras lb16, nb4: 20. Total for two wickets, 74 overs: 205.

Fall of wickets: 1-80, 2-170

Bowling: Donald 17-10-33-2, Pollock 16-5-40-0, Klusener 12-5-23-0, Adams 17-5-61-0, Kallis 10-3-24-0, Cullinan 2-1-8-0.