Cricket: Black Caps' batsmen put in another doomsday effort

New Zealand's James Franklin appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of South Africa's Hashim Amla. Picture / Reuters

JOHANNESBURG - New Zealand's hopes of scoring a series-levelling win against South Africa were dashed almost from the start this morning, following another doomsday effort from their batsmen.

Inserted on a Wanderers pitch that took no prisoners throughout the day, New Zealand's shell-shocked batsmen had no answer to the South African pace attack and were bowled out before tea for 119 - of which Stephen Fleming contributed 46.

It was New Zealand's third lowest innings total against South Africa, the worst since 1953-54, and came after a similar rout in the second innings at Centurion last month, when they were bowled out by Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn for 120.

In reply this morning, South Africa proved far more adept at handling the sporting surface, progressing through to 133 for four when bad light stropped play, with Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers both unbeaten on 1.

New Zealand's woes began even before the start of play last night when opener Peter Fulton was ruled out by a mystery back complaint and was replaced by Jamie How, who was playing his first game since a solitary innings at Benoni three weeks ago.

However, that setback paled into insignificance compared with what was to follow.

Fleming lost the toss and was inserted, the tourists worst fears about the pitch were realised, and by the time the seventh over had been completed they were three down for two runs, with How, Michael Papps and Scott Styris all falling for ducks.

New Zealand's first scoring shot came after 6.2 overs.

It was only a brief respite from Fleming and Nathan Astle, who added 55 precious runs for the fourth wicket, that allowed New Zealand to threaten three figures, and even then they needed some late assistance from Jacob Oram and James Franklin.

However, the stand was ended when Astle was caught at slip off Dale Steyn in the second over after lunch, sparking a collapse only fractionally less chaotic than the one that shook the innings at the start of play.

Fleming - again - was a class apart from his team-mates, absorbing the intense pressure through the first session and - though being dropped on the last ball before lunch - looking one of the few capable of genuine resistance.

He followed Astle back after receiving his second awful decision of the series, umpire Darrell Hair adjudging him caught at the wicket off Makhaya Ntini, when television replays suggested the ball had only grazed his back thigh.

Fleming was also given out caught and bowled in the first innings at Centurion, despite making no contact with the ball.

From then on it was a forlorn procession as Brendon McCullum was caught and bowled off the second ball he faced, Daniel Vettori was trapped in front to a ball that would have struck his leg stump, and James Franklin was undone by an Andrew Hall outswinger.

The innings was sewn up in 44 overs after Oram received another Hair howler, being given out leg-before to a ball that was palpably bouncing over the top, and Chris Martin was caught at the wicket - giving Ntini his fifth five-wicket bag of the summer.

To make matters worse, New Zealand could not capture the same consistency at the bowling crease when South Africa batted, allowing Graeme Smith and Amla to steal a march through the last light-affected session.

James Franklin, Chris Martin and Jacob Oram all gave up valuable runs from the outset as the hosts romped along at more than five and over, picking off the loose balls for boundaries, and collecting low-risk runs in between.

Smith, in particular, was in a ruthless frame of mind, speeding along at a strike-rate of 100 per cent before he was caught at the wicket off Franklin for 63, ending a second wicket partnership that realised 98 runs off just 116 balls.

New Zealand's only consolation came late in the day, when Martin chipped out Jacqes Kallis and Styris sent back Amla for 56.