Cricket: Martin enjoys facing the South Africans

Chris Martin celebrates the removal of Jacques Kallis. Photo / Getty Images

It is a feeling Chris Martin knows well.

Yesterday the third-highest New Zealand test wicket taker was poised for a hat-trick as he put South Africa on the rack at University Oval.

It was the sixth occasion in his 13 years of international cricket that Martin has had the celebrated achievement just a ball away.

But with a cordon of six catchers, he placed the ball on to the hip of lefthander Jacques Rudolph, who tucked it away.

"Dan [Vettori] said it was the worst hat-trick ball ever," Martin quipped.

Martin hasn't taken a first-class hat-trick. Indeed hasn't got one "since I could grow stubble".

He conceded the Rudolph delivery was a disappointment, but had it not been for Martin's sterling effort after tea, the scoreboard at the start of the second day today may well have had a significantly different appearance.

He took three for 34 yesterday to help trim South Africa to 191 for seven at stumps, which continued a fine test season, and maintained his impressive record against the Proteas.

Against them, in his 11th test, he has taken 47 wickets at 23.74 each, 10 runs less than his overall average for his 221 wickets in his 66th match.

Martin has taken 22 wickets in his fifth test of the summer. At a lean 37, his health and fitness are good, he's enjoying his work and New Zealand are getting the benefits.

He likes bowling at the South Africans.

Yesterday he dismissed premier batsmen Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis for the seventh and sixth times respectively in a test.

"I know I've bowled well to them in the past and exactly what I do is a bit difficult for them at times," Martin said.

"It may be going through their mind. There's a whole relaxed feeling when I'm running in."

He puts his success against South Africa in general down to techniques and calmness.

"Certain techniques suit certain bowling and over the years the way I bowl has troubled these guys and it's been consistent on all surfaces.

"There's an added feeling of calmness when you're bowling to these guys which I don't always have to all opposition. I definitely enjoyed myself today."

Martin said it had been up to the senior players to lift New Zealand from an unpromising situation at tea.

"I was a bit more geed up for that session.

"It was time to stand up and get the ball in the right areas and the way it's panned out was far beyond any expectations."

That said, yesterday was "just a pocket of the game that we've played well in so far. The job's not really done".

South African batsman Hashim Amla praised New Zealand for turning the pressure on, but reflected on "a few soft dismissals" on a good pitch.

"We didn't have a good day, but we've had days like this before and come out on top. We're disappointed, but we're not in panic mode."