Cricket: Kallis falls just short as NZ fight back

7.30pm - By MARK GEENTY

South African superbat Jacques Kallis almost stole the first cricket test as his own but a 10-over burst from the big pacemen saw New Zealand not quite dead and buried in Hamilton today.

The tourists resume tomorrow morning on 279 for four after taking a points victory from day one of the series, although Kallis' dismissal for 92 evened the ledger just when New Zealand shoulders were starting to droop.

A gusty final stanza from pacemen Daryl Tuffey and Jacob Oram with the new ball turned it around, Oram bouncing out a frustrated Kallis in sight of reaching three figures for a fifth consecutive test.

It still left captain Stephen Fleming conceding ground to his opposite Graeme Smith who won the toss and didn't hesitate in batting first on a dry, subcontinent style pitch offering little pace or spin early.

New Zealand's spin weapon Daniel Vettori snared the first two wickets but didn't threaten often as he ended with two for 83 off 23.

"We created enough to stay interested throughout the day but it was always going to be tough toil on that wicket," Fleming said.

"The last 10 were excellent, and if we could have put one or two on that it was a pretty good day, but as it stands we're probably just behind."

Both camps labelled the much-discussed pitch as easily capable of producing a result as it wears out and the bounce becomes more variable.

The unforgiving surface made the toss hugely important, as in India or Pakistan and, with Smith calling correctly, the tourists were in charge from the start.

Kallis predictably dominated the day against an accurate New Zealand attack who bowled the right lines but had way too little pitch assistance.

He was coming off a West Indies series where he scored four centuries in six innings, averaging 178, and was shooting for a record only achieved once before by the great Sir Donald Bradman.

That was to score a century in five consecutive matches - Bradman went on to achieve six.

He greeted offspinner Paul Wiseman with consecutive sixes, cruised past 50 for the 38th time in his test career and strolled into the 90s.

But the new ball was his downfall, Tuffey and Oram applying the brakes as he spent 30 minutes on 90 then played a rash hook at Oram into Tuffey's safe hands at long leg.

Oram was New Zealand's best again, taking just one for 50 off 18 overs but delivering six maidens and having several close leg before wicket shouts turned down -- notably when Kallis didn't offer a shot on 42.

Kallis batted 238 minutes, faced 177 balls and hit 11 fours and three sixes.

"I don't think it's the easiest of wickets and it's difficult to score on, so I would have settled for that at the start of the day definitely," said Kallis, whose test average against New Zealand now stands at 69.38.

Smith and Gibbs added 51 for the first wicket but both hit soft catches off Vettori.

Kallis and left-hander Jacques Rudolph put on 132 for the third wicket but Scott Styris was the partnership-breaker, nicking out Rudolph for 72 to a brilliant diving debut catch from gloveman Brendon McCullum.

Fleming was positive that a good first hour against Gary Kirsten, night watchman Paul Adams then Neil McKenzie could see them take control tomorrow.

"If it breaks up then certainly there's a chance of a result and South Africa will fancy it.

"We've got to restrict them a reasonable score, say 350-400, and set about either getting parity or getting further ahead so we can apply some pressure in the later stages."

Kallis meanwhile was adamant a result was possible.

"Already there's uneven bounce so I don't think batting will be easy for both sides.

"There's a definitely a good chance of a side winning."

SCOREBOARD

South Africa

First innings

G Smith c Oram b Vettori 25

H Gibbs c Styris b Vettori 40

J Rudolph not out 72

J Kallis not out 63

Extras (1b, 1lb, 5nb) 7

Total (for 2 wkts, 62 overs) 207

Fall: 51 (Smith), 79 (Gibbs).


Bowling: D Tuffey 10-3-32-0 (1nb), J Oram 13-5-38-0, C Cairns 8-0-21-0 (3nb), D Vettori 18-2-63-2 (1nb), P Wiseman 7-1-35-0, S Styris 5-1-11-0, C McMillan 1-0-5-0.

- NZPA